Living Life 30mm!!!

Does anyone remember the golden period of the idiot box, when it wasn’t touted to be an idiot discovery? That was one era and today is another. But what hasn’t changed is people’s obsession with the 30mm screen. Be it the daily soaps or the weekly family sagas, television has come a long way. If the big screen is dominated by the patriarch segment then the small screen is unquestionably ruled by power puff women.

There was a time when people used to switch off their television sets after 10pm. But Ekta Kapoor, the czarina of small screen changed all that when she launched ace family drama ‘Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi’ in the 10:30 p.m. slot. Based on a Gujarati family, this maha saga not only created history by becoming the longest running daily soap in India but it also recorded mounting TRPs that left many rival channels baffled. The serial not only managed to strike a chord by uniting the country but also gave the nation a reason to talk. People laughed, cried and even connected emotionally with the characters. The saas-bahu formula became an instant hit. Heavy makeup, bridal saris, a big mansion, a scheming vamp and a timid protagonist are the mandatory ingredients to churn out your perfect serial.

Today, the time, location and treatment might have changed but women continue the legacy of dominating the small screen. From Miss Goody two shoes, the ugly duckling ‘Jassi’ to a humpty dumpty overweight ‘Mahi’ and from rigid women hating the village sarpanch ‘Ammaji’ to a sensible and ambitious ‘Balika Vadhu’, the small screen has experimented with all kinds of genre. The prejudice and the fetish of Indians with ‘fair’ skin were portrayed very well in the serial ‘Bidaai’ where the fairer ‘Saadhna’ always overshadowed her cousin ‘Ragini.’

These family serials continue to give their audiences a satisfying emotional catharsis and a relaxing space, where there’s tension, confrontation, an emotional turning point and a resolution, all at once. Through these serials, audiences escape and drain their ‘excessive’ emotional build up. For the older generation too, these serials slowly have become sort of a window to the world today. Television, an integral part of our social fabric, is known to reflect society. Today, this box has reached a state of hubris where it boldly screams - love me or hate me but you can’t ignore me!

-Priyanka Wali, Bespoken Words Team

A Foodie's Expedition

Gone are the days when television shows about food were limited to cookery shows, which had chefs showing us how to whip up delectable recipes. People would sit, armed with notepads and pens, feverishly jotting down ingredients and methods involved in the process.

There is a refreshingly entertaining trend on Indian television these days with food shows which are not just about cooking. They involve travelling to destinations far and beyond and experiencing local cuisines and flavours. ‘TIMES NOW’ has ‘The Foodie’ which is extremely popular. Then there is ‘Secret Kitchen’ on ‘CNN-IBN’. ‘NDTV GOOD TIMES’ also has some interesting shows on offer like ‘Chakh Le India’. For global travels and a taste of international culinary flavours, ‘Travel and Living’ serves up some pretty fun presentations on its platter.

This genre, that involves both travel and gastronomy are a food lover’s delight. It’s like hitting two birds with one stone: getting acquainted with diverse destinations and cultures while travelling in a quest towards discovering incredible culinary delights. Whether it’s visiting the royalty of Rajasthan and sampling some of their exotic gastronomic preparations or making a trip to the Parathewali Galli in Old Delhi’s Chandni Chowk to gorging at roadside ‘dhabas’ to the dining at five star hotels, one can experience it all!

For such a show to be able to hold the interest of viewers, the host needs to be very competent. It’s a real letdown when one has to endure rather average anchoring skills on display. When the show is about food, the host needs to be one who clearly enjoys the whole experience of eating. An anchor with a witty sense of humour can be an icing on the cake!

Culinary shows sure know how to titillate the taste buds of viewers. Watching various ingredients, spices and flavours coming together to create a mouthwatering mélange is an invigorating experience. At times, it’s like one can actually smell the aroma emanating through the television sets! Now that is visual stimulation at its best!

- Ruchika Mathur, Bespoken Words Team