Satyamev Jayate: Why Aamir Khan's show is different
New Delhi: Though it is early to say anything about the sustainability of Aamir Khan's 'Satyamev Jayate', still it is evident that the actor has successfully impressed the common audiences. The actor couldn't wish for a better opening. The curtain raiser revealed the uglier side of the society. 'Satyamev Jayate' didn't show anything new but the actor's persona and straight portrayal of the facts made it a hard hitting show to a good extent. The good thing is that the actor tried to make the issue of female foeticide a national challenge. People recalled shows and serials made on the same lines, blamed the sleeping society for these shows' premature deaths, but kept talking about it. Here lies the success.
People responsible for infanticide and sex detection are also from the same set up, and they have seen many similar shows in the past, but they probably wouldn't have seen such rage against their deeds.True that the show may lose its charm and fire in coming weeks but it has started an awareness which wouldn't die easily. It's something more than the show.
Giving facts is not a big deal, all news channels do this, but what's difficult is to reach everyone to form a common opinion.
Acting is Aamir's profession which seeps into his mannerism also but this doesn't make him or the show non-serious about the cause they are raising.
'Satyamev Jayate' is different content wise also. Unlike other issue based shows, it focused more on the awareness part than the counselling part. Kiran Bedi's 'Aap Ki Kachehri' primarily dealt with domestic problems but it talked about the legal part more than the roots of the trouble. Aamir very rightly says that we are the magic wands. A platform where we can openly discuss about the inherent problems of our own homes is the need of the hour. 'Satyamev Jayate' is a step towards that kind of openness.
Leave the superstar status of Aamir Khan aside, don't care about his crocodile tears, but do think about the facts these women from all parts of India are talking about. Do you wish Salman Khan to be your son's captain too?
In the era of voyeuristic reality shows such as 'Bigg Boss', 'Ring Ka King', 'Roadies', and 'Rakhi Ka Insaaf', 'Satyamev Jayate' decides to become participatory in our daily lives. Shouldn't this be appreciated?
The common man doesn't know the legalities involved in a crime but he can always understand the fact that if certain number of people are against one thing then it would be better to not do it.
Aamir Khan is beneficial for the initial eyeballs and his presence is the backbone of 'Satyamev Jayate', but he alone can't make it a movement. Ok, don't make it a movement, but let's listen carefully to what the show is trying to say.
The social awareness overdrive that has been created by the Satyamev Jayate is remarkable. The superstar effect seems to have worked with the masses, at least from what the initial responses to the show are. While there is a positive ambience about social issues, one needs to contemplate on two major questions. One, aren't there similar shows which are more detailed? Two, is it more about the star or is the issue the star?
ReplyDeleteLet me at the outset mention that I have anything but praise for Mr Khan for his show. I applaud and admire his initiative. He might have made a fortune out of the show but that cannot take away the initiative that he has taken for the show to work. Considering that he is one amidst the very few superstars who takes an earnest interest in social affairs, it is something that needs to be appreciated. However, on the same weekend, there was another show running titled "Saving the Ganga", coincidentally on network 18. This was a notch better than the Khan episode because it addressed a pertinent issue over multiple episodes. It zoomed in one major issue, traversed across the Ganga from source to end and brought about real life solutions to the issue. This issue is being addressed upon various episodes and it is still running.
This is what I learned from it:
One of the major reasons for the continuous destruction of the mighty river is the building of dams and rapid urbanization. Rapid urbanization and the building of over 300 dams across the river have crippled the river. The river's natural course has been disturbed due to these developments across the river and the irresponsible corporatization has worsened the river's woes. While the dams are needed for development, the inadequate compensation packages to the residents along the belt have also ensured improper displacement of land. In addition, there has been sewage leakage across the river belt and consistent pollution by industries. The common man's irresponsible habits have also contributed in ripping apart the Ganga.
So what are people doing about all this?
Not much. Despite the setting up of the National Ganga River Basin Authority(NGRBA) a couple of decades ago, the progress has been pretty shoddy. Daring public crusaders bring up this issue every single time. Professor Agarwal is point in case. An ex IIT professor turned sanyasin, he has been on fast for the state to act on the Ganga. His indefinite fast has had an effect but nothing of the effect that needs to save the Ganga. Public crusaders can go only thus far, the power of the corporates is so immense that environment and holy rivers are taken for a toss.
So what has this got to do with Satyamev Jayate?
It has lot to do with it. It tells me two major things. One, the idea of Satyamev Jayate has been around everywhere around us, it's just that we didn't bother to even look at it. I deliberately based my entire article on the TV show, and realized it gave me as much info or more than what Mr Khan could give on his show. There are many shows across the news spectrum that offers such detailed facts about the issues concerning the society. The DD channels are prime examples of this with significant coverage on such issues, the presentations lack the suave but the content is good. The important aspect about these shows is that they delve on a particular issue for a longer period of time. This provides them the scope to address multiple angles of an issue, something which is required for balance to be achieved. Moreover, they also have a sustained campaign over one single issue in order to bring the issue to the fore over a long period of time. This brings me to my second point.