Punjabi AntennA
A popular host
Randeep Wadehra

SHE is talented, telegenic and pretty. Although one had noticed her on PTC’s Good Morning Punjab show for the first time, Jaspreet Jassi’s achievements have been quite impressive. She has co-anchored on MTV with such VJs as Nikhil Chennappa, Anushka and Ranvijay apart from hosting an episode of Roadies. Jassi has been a VJ on MH1, too. Having emceed several live concerts, beauty contests and corporate shows, she has had the opportunity to interview/ interact/co-host with the likes of Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev, Chris Cairns, John Abraham, Tushar Kapoor et al.

Among the several interviews taken by her, she cherishes the one with Navjot Singh Sidhu. When asked whether the motor-mouth cricketer-MP had allowed her to have at least a word in, she giggled and said: "I was able to ask all the questions I wanted to."Well, that is some achievement.

As an actress she has worked in the Hindi flick Aapne starring Dharmendra, Sunny Deol and Kiran Kher. She has also done theatre in Canada and the US. Presently she is working for ETC Punjabi and Zee Punjabi in such popular shows as Dial-E-Punjab, Phulkari and Sohni Saver. Manchester Vich Failda Zeher, telecast on January 21, was an eye-opener.

The famed Budda Nala turning black with toxins, the air dense with smoke, fog and other pollutants; the soil poisoned with all sorts of industrial wastes and other chemicals; the roads clogged with hydro-carbons- spewing vehicles; a wheezing, gasping-for-life citizenry; and terminal, disabling ailments reaching epidemic proportions. This Stygian scenario is real, brought home to us by Rajesh Indrepall of PTC News. The tellingly eloquent photographs, interviews with pollution’s victims and local pollution control board’s officials, as well as collecting and collating the relevant data require painstaking work, which Indrepall has done brilliantly.

It is well known that despite appropriate laws, people in rural areas fall victim to preventable frauds and avoidable disputes where land and property are concerned. The implications of various clauses in wills and mortgage deeds can be interpreted by the unscrupulous in such manner that the gullible and the innocent can be cheated of their due rights and claims.

This is where DD Punjabi’s programme Kanooni Nukte comes in handy. The episode on January 19 was particularly interesting as the guest advocate Dadwal gave clear and detailed information on the disputes queried by viewers over phone. More importantly, the show’s lady anchor asked questions that were relevant and searching. Obviously, she had done her homework and knew her subject rather well.

Another show on DDJ, Chad-de Sooraj for youth, normally telecasts folk or patriotic songs with an occasional off-beat item. This time the creative dance by Rekha—a university student—was quite interesting. She portrayed the dreams, aspirations and frustrations of a blind female violinist.