TV serials beckon models

LIFE is seldom a party for those who want to seriously pursue a career in television or modelling. But when you are into both, things can become pretty hectic.

Take the case of Chandni Sachdeva. The former Miss Lucknow and second runner-up Miss Delhi who’s done press and TV ads for Maruti, Siemens, Motorola, Khaitan Fans, Liberty and more, says she follows a strict work-out regimen for that hour-glass figure.

More so, because she is now stepping into the world of television. Chandni has already tested the waters by featuring in Usha Uthup’s music video One Day Cricket and is anchoring two countdown shows — Laajawab for DD Metro and Pop Scene for DD International.

Chandni has already been approached for the ongoing Champion and some other producers, she says, have short-listed her for their forthcoming serials. "It’ll be quite a job balancing both professions," says the model and budding TV star who seems to have big plans for the small screen.

Case of overkill?

For a show which attracted almost a cult following, it’s a reversal of fortunes, Suhaib Illaysi’s India’s Most Wanted on Zee which gripped viewer attention initially is now facing criticism from a growing section of people who say that the depiction of crime is so gory that it turns them off.

Which is all so ironical. Usually a near life-like enactment of an event invites kudos but in IMW’s case it is turning out to be a cause of concern. Though many say that Illaysi reproduces the scene of crime brilliantly, others are feeling that he tends to sensationalise it.

They say that such true depiction of crime is bound to give ideas to people living on the fringes of society. "It’s almost a lesson on how to smoothly execute a crime," says a viewer.

These are danger signals for a show which started out as one of the most popular and socially relevant programmes on television. And if its TRPs are slipping, the producers have no one but themselves to blame — for doing their job too well!

Confusion galore

It’s an east-meets-west story a la Bollywood style. About love and hate in the family of an Indian lawyer Devdutt Saran based in New Jersey, USA. It’s about his wife, his two sons and daughter who all go their own ways.

The trouble with Mausam on Zee is that the story has so many characters that it is hard for the viewer to keep pace with the fast changing faces on the small screen. Wives, ex-wives, husbands, lovers, aunts, uncles and friends all choke the basic script to an extent that total confusion prevails.

Though the serial has a good star cast headed by Alok Nath and Padma Khanna and competent camera work, it gets bogged down by its confounding characterisation. For it to click the producers would have no choice but to spend half the time in re-capping earlier episodes.

Back on top

He’s back in business. A couple of months after resuming telecast Shaktimaan is on top of the Doordarshan TRP ratings — the place it enjoyed before temporarily going off the air.

Over 70 episodes old, the serial’s popularity shows no signs of abating even as Shaktimaan travels into outer space in the current episodes to bring a dead girl back to earth and infuse life into her with the powers that God has blessed him with.

Indeed, the exploits of Shaktimaan are once again a part of the modern folklore among kids. "He’s India’s very own Superman, Batman, Spiderman and Tarzan all rolled into one" says Abhishekh, a tenth class student of Delhi.

Indeed he is, considering the fact that no other mythical TV hero has had such a cult following among young people specially in towns and villages.

Panda-monium on TV

China has an extraordinary level of bio-diversity, found in few other places on earth, from the Siberian tiger in the north to the Yangtze alligator from the green-haired turtle to the giant panda, it has a variety of rare animals.

Here’s your chance of venturing deep into the nearly impenetrable forests of the Qin Ling Mountains in eastern China to see how some of the last remaining giant pandas on earth live. The programme Living With Giants airs on July 6 at 5.30 p.m.

This heartwarming documentary focuses on the discovery of an injured panda by a young boy. As he and his grandfather take the ailing animal into their home and tend to its wounds, we journey to see how everyone, from scientists down to locals, are trying to help and protect this gentle giant who lives amongst them.

Finally the documentary goes back to the mountains to see this group return their convalescing panda to its natural habitat. A fascinating account of one of nature’s most handsome animals. Watch it alongwith the kids; they’ll just love it.

Toon express

For several years Cartoon Network’s toons have either been nominees or recipients of prestigious awards including ‘The Emmy Awards’ and ‘The Academy Awards’. The award winning toons include Tom & Jerry and Courage The Cowardly Dog.

This July Cartoon Network will launch its 1999 Toon Awards

Viewers will be invited to choose from a list of star — studded nominees in five categories including the Most Macho, the Best Dressed, the Cutest Toon Star, the Grooviest Toon, and the Best Catch Phrase to vote for their favourite toon.

All entries will automatically be entered into a lucky draw enabling 650 lucky winners to receive Cartoon Network.

The 1999 awards are a result of Cartoon Network entering eight million cable and satellite homes in India. Additionally, the network is distributed in Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka, with a combined reach of one million cable and satellite households.

This is heartening news for the toons who’ll be laughing all the way to the bank!

— Mukesh Khosla