PUNJABI ANTENNA
Predictable fare
by Randeep Wadehra

Parchu peril, Olympics and I-Day almost pushed the truck-drivers-in-Iraq crisis off the small screen. Then there was a literal sea change in the region’s landscape from parched earth to floods, and TV channels beamed the human misery into our living rooms. On top came the cable operators’ strike. Really, something needs to be done to break the stranglehold of this bunch of blackmailing monopolists.

The Kaka Nikki Time (ETC) has changed anchors. The two kids – Divya and Dixit – and their dialogues are decidedly more childlike. But the "celebrity uncle" Sunny Vasudeva could’ve come up with lyrics more appropriate for the kids’ show. Why do Punjabi songs have to be based only on adult love? I’m sure there’s plenty of stuff in our folklore and literature waiting to be converted into lyrical treats for the little ones. Later in life, there’ll be time enough for them to get acquainted with capricious love.

There are channels exclusively devoted to astrology and religious discourses. Many set aside some slots for these. Alpha Punjabi has two astrologers, Pawan Sharma of Ajj Da Rashiphal and P. Khurrana of Sitare Ki Kehnde Nein, who offer problem-specific predictions to viewers. Not only do the two astrologers read personal horoscopes but also give daily predictions for the respective zodiac signs. No wonder, the duo is so popular.