Mr. Aamir Khan,
C/O Satyamev Jayate
Star Plus
Mumbai Date: 18th May, 2012
Dear Mr. Aamir Khan,
Sub : Satyamev Jayate – God of the Small Screen?
I write earnestly, ever since your new television series premiered nationwide, two weeks ago. I have just one question, ‘What were you thinking?’ Did we not have enough on our melodrama plate that you had to go on and add to the visual buffet? I mean, you could have very well bought an IPL team if you wished, garnished them with imported kamariyas and made our lives easier. But no sir, you had to knock on the doors of reality TV and how? Allow me to explain further.
1. To start off with, your concept of reality TV is flawed. Ideally, you ought to pick celebrities that have faded into oblivionand bunch them up in a house for 3 months. Get them to fight, as per a well written script and beep the ‘bits not acceptable for public hearing’. Viewing of the ridiculous behaviour however, is permissible. But you have dissected tabootopics to an open discussion after in-depth research? Looks like an off shoot of your ‘professionalism’ that we keep hearing of in the tabloids.
2. You also are supposed to ‘sweeten’ the show by adding laughter and a round of applause at the drop of a hat, so even when people sit tight, the TV resounds with ‘claps, whistles and ha ha has’. Alas! Your TV show gets a standing ovation from the audience worldwide.
3. Our country has an abundance of talent. Pick them from the streets, villages, towns, cities and overseas (NRI emotions and ratings are the highest). Pit them in a battle of either bodily movement or melody and you have a winner. Never mind that, the contestants are on display and disparagingly are singled out one by one, to get to the ‘winner’. But you chose to bring in ‘ordinary people with extraordinary experiences’. What a letdown!
4. Judges that squabble and insult rake in the highest TRP’s! No one told you that? And all you have is an anchor that actually empathizes and tries to initiate the wave of change, by taking the first step. So typically you, to pick a meaty role.
5. The greatest crowd puller is the ‘prize money’. People have testified how they had no electricity, but they walked miles to make that one phone call, to enter a show that had the power to change their lives forever. Forget money, all you give us at the end of the show is a song with some soul stirring lyrics? I mean, this is the height of cost cutting by the production team!
6. Last but not the least, voting. Fortunately, you got that bit right, but partially. You vote to save a contestant, not to address a national issue. You never disclose the cost of sending an SMS on national Television, but hide it under conditions apply*.
The above points clearly indicate your inadequacy to run a reality show. Prior to the airing of ‘Satyamev Jayate’, I was happy to be a crab. Offering my criticism for free, bawling about how change can never happen unless initiated from the top and going back to my secured cocoon. My phone had never sent a random sms for any competition or cause, except for that lone time for Anna Hazare. And now solely because of your darn show, I find myself wanting to come out of the basket and use my claws to type on 5782711 in the flickering hope that, ‘Truth Alone Shall Prevail.’ You, Mr. Khan, have for some strange reason, earned my respect.
Yours Sincerely,
BlogwatiG
PS : The redundant letter writing style, just goes on to prove that we have to upgrade ourselves in more ways than one.
PS : The redundant letter writing style, just goes on to prove that we have to upgrade ourselves in more ways than one.
Comments
Mridula @ Precisely, the media will refrain from talking about the topics but instead toss it on the TRP report card to figure out it’s impact. Well hopefully this one won’t be a dudd, not with AK at it’s helm.
Chatty @ I guess that stems a lot from our upbringing to accommodate and adjust. We just have to learn to say No, it won’t do…..instead of Yes Sir. Thanks for dropping by.
Soniaji @ Change we know is the only constant and how we fight it. AB made Hindi fashionable, my utmost respect for the man, yet AK has taken it upon himself to bring about a change…..hence my support . Your comments always make me smile 🙂
Hey Neetu…..thanks so much….I do try 😉
Blogwati G, very well said very lucidly written. Only that despite of all that trp essentials Satyamev Jayate is a hit show. I’m sure someone will make a meek attempt of trying to do another Satyamev but I doubt they can hold themselves back on the above listed trp essentials. So Amir and Satyamev will always be ekmeva.
The show has brought out a lot of things we try to push under the carpet!! And the format too is refreshingly clean and non-stereotypical. Nicely worded!!
‘P.S.The redundant letter writing style, just goes on to prove that we have to upgrade ourselves in more ways than one.’
This sentence almost resonates with one of Aamir Khan’s, in the first episode, “True change can only happen when each one of us decides to make that change.” Well, he was almost quoting Gandhiji but I guess, coming from the ‘Guru of the small screen’ (I still say, AB is the ‘God’ of the small screen)this will hopefully have more impact.
Blogwatig, your finger’s on the right pulse :)))
you are so cool!!
I was just about to blast off when i read the headline of this article! But to my amazement , it is so cool! Well done! Good to see this piece 🙂
i loved the way this post builds up… kudos. awesome post.
Interesting . Agree….he has used his celebrity status for a good cause and not to sell fairness creams or dance at weddings.
This show has definitely grabbed eye-balls and is in the right direction.
a novel way of paying compliments, Blogwati..
p.s. Loved your name 🙂
A very unique and interesting post!
Prateek @ Glad you stayed and read through.
Dr. Roshan @ Alternate therapy I guess 🙂
Alka @ Well, he chose to do ‘something’ about it. that works for me, far more than what anyone of us have done. Hence, respect.
Uma @ Me love my name too 😀 and yup the show deserves the hype that it has.
Rachna @ Thank you so much…do keep coming back.
Abhyudaya @ Pedestals are scary….I’d rather be at ground level. But yes, happy to know it struck a chord 🙂
Megha @ Any other ‘reality’ show would definitely have got my appreciative criticism 😀 Nice to see you here 🙂
A very good satire. 🙂 I should have known from your moniker- Blogwati. Nothing wrong can come out of that!
WOW! This is a great post! At first I thought it is all about criticism. You went so well. <3 <3
love
http://www.meghasarin.blogspot.com
Very nicely written. There are some idiots who are opposing this show big time.
Do have a look at this and give your comments.
http://worth-a-million.blogspot.in/2012/05/can-india-actually-develop.html
🙂 good one!
Good one, Nicely written 🙂
Ha..Ha.. ha..
If this is not as good as SMJ, what else is?
Aamir khan has achieved . He is making us think.
Too good, you write well and add me as a regular visitor to your pages.:-)
hey excellent…can i post the link on my fb page
Please do….I am glad u liked it that much…
Well written . Before reading I thought people like only fake reality show and was feeling bad but then started reading , felt good. keep it up
First impressions can be deceptive…glad u deciphered the code..
Prerna@ like I said, pretty much the crab syndrome. Nothing is flawless, but that is what makes it beautiful. Just gonna hop to ur page… : )
Magiceye and Srikanth ……thanku,thanku….I am really beaming right now..
Vetrimagal@ wow….dunno if have made it to the extraordinary league of gentlemen yet,enjoying the accolades though….keep them coming. : D
A very interesting post indeed! I thought you were one of those who were against SMJ after reading the title! Phew! I am so glad this was not so! I am 100% with you! Loved the letter writing style. 🙂
@jyothismusings it was meant o be deceptive, glad you liked it!
This was written almost a month ago. I bet you views about the show have changed by now!
It’s quite a disappointment…half baked concept, misinterpreted facts and ill-informed host!
Deadly combo!
Itna bhi kharab nahi hai prateek…:)
Itna bhi kharab nahi hai prateek…:)