I’m a registered voter in Hyderabad where I was brought up. Unfortunately from the time I’ve moved to Mumbai almost 6 years back, I’ve not shifted my registration to my current city of residence. This turned out to be a good thing because now that the formation of the new state of Telangana is almost certain, this election may just be the last time I vote in Hyderabad.
When the polling dates were announced, I made sure that I travel back home to cast my vote and return the love to the ruling government in my home-state.
… but before I start any serious discussion on Satyameva Jayate, is no one else here annoyed about the abbreviation – SMJ? Shouldn’t it be SEJ? Didn’t Marketing check that the actual Sanksrit word is satyam-eva jayate (सत्यमेव जयते) and not satya-meva jayate?
(Sorry. I’m working on fixing my OCDs. For now, let’s move ahead)
Aamir Khan is back in your living rooms! His Sunday morning TV show, Satyameva Jayate returns for a second season on Star Plus this March. “Jinhe desh ki fikr hai” (for those concerned about the nation), the promos tell us. This time around, Aamir doesn’t even hide the fact that he’s going to be like that uninvited guest in your house on a Sunday. So what brought him back?
SEASON 1 SOUNDED LIKE MANNA FROM THE HEAVENS
The first season of the weekly show was probably one of the most ambitious risks the Star TV network undertook. It was a giant leap never taken before. An A-list celebrity, simulcast on 9 channels including 4 southern languages and a huge marketing push by the country’s biggest TV house. I still recall the excitement with which all my colleagues wondered what the show was going to be about while we left our offices on the Friday evening. At least among the city dwellers, there was a definite sense of anticipation to see Aamir Khan do *something* on TV.
All this before the show went on air, of course.
At the end of the first season, reactions have been quite polar. Aamir presented 13 issues ranging from female foeticide to rainwater harvesting. A rough outline of a show’s script would contain one or more of these elements:
Selecting a social problem in the first 30 seconds
Highlight one or more real-life incidents that are the most visceral/shocking
Interview the victims/oppressed/aggrieved parties. Aamir usually evokes seriousness by wrinkling the forehead
Interview experts in the field to discuss about what could be a possible (but never conclusive) reason for this problem
At least one chart with facts and numbers.
More real life examples. Aamir begins to sound exasperated and so is the audience. At this time, a hotline number flashes on the screen to express support or make donations (BTW, are you aware that the show generated Rs.22 crore worth donations last season?)
Show ends with a poignant song. Aamir may or may not cry. Melodrama. Melodrama.
UNDERSTANDING VIEWER RECEPTION
Satyameva Jayate generated reactions across the board. All the way from genuine praise to lack of connectivity. I watched a few episodes of last season and also caught the one that aired last Sunday. My honest reaction? Its very hard to STOP watching once you’ve begin. Just like last time around, the show approaches issues with adequate research and facts. In a manner of a few minutes and through Aamir’s eloquence, the viewer KNOWS a problem exists. The definition becomes clear. Credit must be given to getting that part right.
Things get muddled once the show starts taking itself seriously. This is the part where it attempts to document causes & solutions.
Big shout out to the movie lovers at MoiFightClub. They do immeasurable service to the community by highlighting all things related to good cinema. Another such effort is to use their contacts to generate dialogue between filmmakers & their audiences. Here is a 90 minute session with director Imtiaz Ali talking to viewers after the screening of his movie “Highway”.
It takes a lot for a filmmaker to put himself out there and take direct questions about his story. Imtiaz Ali is humble, honest and bold all at the same time while discussing his film. Without undermining the intelligence of any question asked, he acknowledged his shortcomings and also provided his understanding the situations that led him to it. Few points for the lazy:
That sincerity with which he discusses his characters. He keeps telling us he was not sure of many things about where the lead characters would end up. It was visible in these conversations that he invested in the characters and was willing to change their behaviour based on actors feedback – “Because they were living in that story… Alia was living as Veera as we went shooting across the mountains”. Another memorable moment — he was asked why the characters never ended up sex. Why did the relation between Mahabir & Veera not consummate physically? The response – “It never went in that direction. Probably they would have if they stayed there for a few more days.”
An audience member observed that as the protags hid in the mountains, it seemed that the movie itself was trying to get rid of the shackles of a plot. Imtiaz smiled and concurred with that observation. He confessed that he doesn’t like movies that carry the weight of the plot on them. Unfortunately, for a larger audience this translated into a negative feedback.
In the first 10 minutes of the 3rd video, he discusses songs, singers & A.R.Rehman. How I wished someone asked him about the working process with Rehman at this forum!
In his defense, Imtiaz Ali spoke candidly about the process of movie making and the challenges posted by budget & time. With due credit to his razor sharp memory, a lot many stories tumbled out about the locations & the people that worked with him on this project.
This interaction was a trove of information and provided a peek of the brilliant mind of Imtiaz Ali and big thanks to the awesome folks of MoiFightClub for this. Keep up the good work, guys!
As far as the reactions go, Imtiaz Ali’s new film ‘Highway’ is more or less on the same track like his last film Rockstar – completely divided between lovers and haters. And like last time, Ali was quite open and candid to discuss the strength and every weakness of the film, and took it all head on. We love and respect those filmmakers who are open to such dialogues. So thanks a lot, Imtiaz Ali. Whatever film you make, hope you remain like this.
We also hope more bollywood filmmakers will be open to such Q and As. Who really wants to read about the film pre-release, which is still quite the norm in the country. And post-release, they just vanish.
Decoding the static on Indian TV 
