Every time I watch soaps/serials on prime time channels I can’t resist asking a question, are we creatively bankrupt? I personally find 95% serials regressive, demeaning women and it seems that the writers are sadists, who enjoy suffering and pain. Most of the serials show vamps, who enjoys bitching, hurt people and have no conscience at all. I mean common! Women are far more purposeful and secure today, than waste time in bitching and scheming. So far in life I have been surrounded by women who are strong, intellectually superior than most of men and above all have lots of compassion. I don’t know about public in general but I feel offended by depiction of women in this manner.
I strongly feel that these serials have wrong and unhealthy idea of entertainment. I personally would like to unwind with something light and sensitive, after a hard days stress. I wouldn’t mind watching something which provokes us to think about burning issues that we are facing or something simple that touches heart and makes you smile. I know that there is demand, hence there is a supply, however I strongly feel that a media as strong as this can really help us in becoming progressive instead of rendering us regressive. We can very well see the change in the cinema today, where directors are making entertaining yet socially relevant movies. Rang De Basanti, Tare Zameen Par, A Wednessday are just a few examples of movies which not only registered success at box office but also changed paradigms. I would just like to state the example of Jessica Lals case where people gathered at India gate in support of the grieving family or people gathering at Gate way of India to show solidarity against terrorism.
Its not that our literature doesn’t have good stories, we have a gold mine I terms of literature. If you go through novels/stories written by Shivani, Sharat Chandra or Ismat Chugtai you will certainly see no dearth of content. Our pachtantra stories, stories of Tenali Raman, Birbal etc have enough content to give Tom and Jerry or Pokemon a run for there money. Instead what we get to see scheming in-laws, sadist fathers conspiring against there own daughters and back stabbing friends. I feel what these serials are depicting about India is far more demeaning than what some people thought about Slumdog.
I feel we have to start demanding quality entertainment, just like clean roads, better health services, after all these serials do affect the mental hygiene. Come on lets all reject these substandard serials and demand for more meaningful and socially enriching programs on air. Let us encourage our kids to watch and read our rich literature so that they not only learn but also feel proud of our heritage. Let us enable our kids to progress and be modern, but at the same time appreciate the richness that we have as a culture. Reject this pathos unlimited and demand for something meaningful!!
