Sunday, March 31, 2002		Television

The poignant tale of a strong woman

IN a society where arranged marriages are still the norm, a bride can experience a series of emotions as she prepares herself to meet her new family. Over the years she assumes the role of a homemaker and with time becomes the pivot around whom the family revolves.

This tale has been the basis of countless films in the sixties with Nirupa Roy playing the perennial weepy bahu. Star Plus, which has given a new life to the daughter-in-law and mother-in-law characters with serials like Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi and Kahani Ghar Ghar Ki, once again attempts to define the Indian bahu.

Its new afternoon daily soap Bhabhi, Monday to Thursday at 1.30 pm, is the story of a young bride whose car meets with an accident on the wedding night and she lands up in another household which too is expecting its new bride.

The man getting married realises the blunder but before he can tell anyone anything, the story suddenly takes a curious turn. The groom’s mother falls ill and the bride is prevented from leaving the home.

Though a bit far-fetched in its storyline, Bhabhi is a poignant tale of a strong woman torn between her old emotional ties and new duties towards her ‘adopted’ family. Will she go back to the man who was to be her lawful husband or will she stay in this household that needs her so much? Stay tuned to your TV sets every afternoon for the answers.

Pakistan is under the spotlight once again. No not by the US or any other international intelligence agency, but this time under the scrutiny of the National Geographic Channel. And the subject is something that the country would best keep a closely guarded secret.

Honour Killingshas been shot by eminent filmmaker Mick Davie. The documentary will be shown as part of the series Frontline Diary on March 31 at 9 p.m. The practice still prevalent in many parts of the country, is an act of savagery where a man can kill a woman either as punishment or to relieve her from some agony.

The documentary focuses on the life and struggle of a survivor, Zahida Parveen whose husband mutilated her and left her to die. But she lived and did what few Pakistani women dare to do...she fought back and demanded justice and won an astounding victory.

This documentary is the story of campaigners like her. It’s one of courage, compassion and Pakistani women’s fight for equal rights. The unit spent a long time in Pakistan’s remote areas for this amazing — and gut-wrenching — footage. This is a not-to-be-missed documentary. Tele-journalism at its very best.

Right from its initial days Heena every Friday at 9.30 p.m. on Sony TV has been the object of great sympathy. The teary-eyed girl has been wronged by fate and stumbles from one struggle to another. Be it a messy divorce with Sameer or marriage to Akram.

Now, even as Heena begins to pick up pieces of her life with husband Akram and just when things seem to be looking up again a new problem crops up by the name of Ruby. The lady wants to marry Sameer for a vested interest and she begins working to a diabolical plan.

She gains Akram’s trust as a friend and business acquaintance and starts poisoning his mind against Sameer and Heena saying that the two are still very fond of each other. A time comes when Akram gets thoroughly convinced that his wife and her first husband are hiding something from him.

Tension mounts between Akram and Heena even as Sameer agrees to his parent’s decision to marry Ruby. Is Heena’s marriage ruined forever? Will Sameer marry Ruby? Find out in the riveting drama that unfolds in the following weeks.

Don’t fret if you missed her on March 22 on the Junglee Juke Box on Channel (V). You’ll see a lot of Deepanita in the coming weeks and months both on the small and big screens.

First the big news of the big screen. Deepanita is all set to steal hearts with her riveting performance in the new thriller 16 December. According to insiders, the girl with a million dollar smile — as she’s popularly known in ad circles — is surely the most exciting find after Bipasha Basu.

And the good news for television viewers is that Deepanita is not averse to the small screen. Acting, she says, is acting. "Today television attracts a huge viewership and no upcoming star can ignore it." So she’s scouting around for good roles in both the mediums.

Says the high flying model-turned actress, "What I am looking forward to is good roles and powerful scripts. And going by her sizzling performance in 16 December, viewers also have a lot to look forward to.

Even as Star Plus and Sony do an overdose of soaps, Sabe TV is busy making a niche for itself in comedy. Viewers who have enjoyed Office-Office, Shriman Shrimati and Yes Boss on the channel can now look forward to half an hour to rib-tickling comedy.

Sajan Tum Jhuth Mat Bolo, Monday to Thursday, 8.30 p.m. is all about lies and liars. Three brothers who fib through their teeth to get out of sticky situations. They lie to their friends, their wives and to their truth-worshipping father who is a highly respected retired judge.

What adds the real colour to this comedy is the riotous modus operandi that the three comic ‘Musketeers’ adopt to salvage themselves from tight spots. Together they form an entirely innovative team of liars whose untruths are completely novel and very believable.

Interesting, deep inside they are conscientious and responsible guys who resort to fibbing to save their skins and what follows is situational comedy that will have you laughing four days a week.

Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, Steven Seagal and Jet Li — the names in Hollywood and Hong Kong film history that have made martial arts famous worldwide with a cult following. But why do people study the martial arts? Is it a desire to imitate the fighting skills of their Hollywood heroes, a love of violence or a quest for inner peace?

Discovery profiles varied techniques and their practitioners and attempts to find the most effective forms in Martial Arts: Eastern Art Form, Western Ways March 31, 11 a.m.

From the legendary "Beast of Amsterdam," Jon Bluming, whose fists are well-known in the Dutch city’s infamous red light district, to Nan Don Sken, a Thai boxer whose kicks can easily fell an opponent twice his height, this programme is not about myths — It’s about the real thing.

Although many people are familiar with traditional forms of karate or judo, the programme introduces viewers to some of the lesser-known, but equally effective, techniques. These include T’ai Chi Chuan, the ultimate Chinese grand boxing and the deady art of Indian Kalarippayattu, which some claim is the world’s oldest martial art;

The programme showcases the fact that the reality of the fighting arts is far more compelling than what is typically presented to the public. Tune into this show which parts is as thrilling as a martial arts all-action movie.

— Mukesh Khosla