If one were to go along with the premise that we now live in a frightening world that is far more political than ever before, especially post 9/11, then there would be the natural result: a political context and a non-political context for television too. That being so, one would like to begin with the latter, and then get onto matters grim and profound.
Or atleast ostensibly so. Some time in the course of this focus on television one would be tempted to take on the question: what is the world view that comes through the canvass of all cable and satellite television in Pakistan? Is it for example, entertainment, what it's all about? Is it a political battle that is on, for a supremacy of values? It is in this context one would like to mention what the lively Fox news channel has as a kind of mission statement for itself when it says "We report. You decide" A very attractive proposition, apparently.
I saw want to begin with Sunday when it seems that the primary emphasis is on the family, and entertainment is a solitary goal of all channels. Of course, there are news and current affairs issues that run through the day, and events in Pakistan and worldwide focused upon. Hard news, as the professionals would say. But the underlying overbearing emphasis is on music, sports, cooking, cartoons, repeat runs of anything that has been popular, Indian cinema, Indian popular songs where an integral and alluring factor is an amazing variety and freshness of female faces and forms. This itself is a subject for another occasion.
Assuming that most people watch Television on Sunday(?) I want to focus on a programme called "Sunehray Log" that went on air in the evening. Which I was able to watch almost entirely, despite the ARY One's hammering away at the fact that Shahbaz Sharif was arriving in Pakistan on 11th May, and that he would be talking to Dr Shahid Masood live at about 8.10 p.m. on Sunday evening 9th May. What actually happened is well known. And once again it reiterates the strong influence that television news is going to have in our lives. No argument about that, whether society likes it or not. It is evidently society that has to adjust to TV it seems.
That particular Sunehray Log, (a PTV channel show), was about the legendary film actor Santosh Kumar. Younger viewers may not even know his name, but the script researched by a cine historian, Dr Omar Adil and directed by Iffat Omar who also compared the show (without the finesse that was required) was transformed into a highly absorbing programme. What was intended was to profile Santosh Kumar, and that was done with some original interviews with his first wife, the elegant, dignified, and sedate Jamila Raza, and their married daughter. Both brought new focus into the public domain, and the generous and candid manner in which Jamila Raza (Santosh Kumar's real name was Syed Musa Raza) spoke of the late actor was both amazing and welcome. That brought out the towering stature of the actor in his personal life, and the fact that he had kept the well-known family well knit. There were also clips from his famous films of the earlier and later days, in which he teamed with Noor Jehan, Shammi, Ragni, Nayyar Sultana, Shamim Ara and, of course, Sabiha Khanum whom, he later married. Of-course, there was nostalgia, and melody, and a strong emotive element, but what was missing was a possible conversation with some more members of the famous family of Santosh Kumar. I thought that it was relevant to have mentioned the age at which Santosh Kumar died. He passed away on 11th June 1982, 22 years ago.
Listening to the songs of the Santosh Kumar movies brought back into focus the music of those days, and compare it to the music that now some channels are fully devoted to. The contrast is evident, but so is the society of today, where music alone is inadequate for success, and commercial success at that. And the videos that are generally made, or as a rule appear centred around "physicality" of the women, (what Raquel Welch said in a Larry King Live interaction earlier on, the very same Sunday.) Very very few of these videos have a visual that reflects a sense of aesthetics that has anything to with concepts like elegance, grace, subtlety, and charm, (read feminine). But the fact that they get sponsorships is what matters. It is relevant to mention here that some of the melodious hits of yesterday, both in India and Pakistan, have been conceived all over again, and filmed in the "idiom" and "metaphor" of today. Also in the overflowing sensuality that reigns supreme. This allure and somewhat shocking sensuality is manifest in the Indian channels that are available at this point in time, and I suppose what one watches is also dependent upon the cable provider that is available. At the moment some officially cleared Indian channels are StarGold, Zee Cinema, Zee Music, B4U music, StarPlus and I am not sure whether some of those videos would be conform to the values of most conservative families in this society. Like those HIV/AIDS commercials that the Federal Ministry of Health promotes so carelessly. One is surprised that these commercials have not evoked comment from any relevant quarters.
On the subject of music in passing some of the golden hits from yesterday that have been "redone": Gham-e-Dil Ko In Ankhon Sey Chalak Jana Bhi Aata Hai;, Co Co Corina; Aey Jan-e-Baharan; interestingly Tulsi supari has sponsored many such popular songs, and presumably with commercial returns too. They are rather enjoyable, though I personally would prefer that some of those hits from yesterday be retelecast. There is perhaps a programme that PTV has where old hits from Pakistani cinema are shown, or perhaps it has been discontinued; one does not know. Indus Music is focusing on the music of the past, and some of its tributes to the legends have been superb, and there is another coming up later on 23rd May. This is a rich tribute to the late Ustad Amanat Ali Khan, and its pre telecast publicity indicates promise.
Which reminds me that during the week there was a late night conversation on PTV with the singer Ataullah Issa Khelvi and if it wasn't for the fact that I was sleepy that night I would have stayed up longer. It was absolutely fascinating to hear him, bare his heart, and share his inner thoughts, dreams, and his gratitude to the Almighty Allah. And how he became a singer by chance! The strange point him is not just the loneliness and dignity that he reflects, but also that he is refreshing and absorbing despite the years that he has been the centre of focus, and applause. He is not stereotyped, and weather-beaten, as some of the stars can be. Ataullah Issa Khelvi for me anytime, the sadness, and the passion in his voice, any time.
Larry King Live. Amazing, indeed that he continus to grow stronger, though the years show so much. Sunday afternoon, Pakistan time had him talking to the celebrated actress Raquel Welch, and the underlying theme of the dialogue was her "4th divorce, the car crash and being a sex symbol at 63." It was one of those truly memorable interviews, and she came through as a person who did not cover up her past. She took the questions as they came, one by one, and responded with spontaneity, and style; Clips from her famous movies, were employed intelligently to lend greater appeal to the smooth conversation.
The significant aspect of her answers was that she appeared to be a woman who believed that man is king of the home, and referred to her own father who was "king and tyrannical" while her mother was "self-effecting and mild mannered". She said that as she looked back at her life she felt that she should not have been such an achiever, and that she should have spent her time giving more to people. The reason being that she believes that women give more to society, with their nurturing role, they give more to men, to children, to society. Great.
A rage once upon a time, she still appeared attractive in that interview and Larry King, described her as one his favourite people. She remarked at one stage that she wanted to be more than just a pretty face, and to another question remarked. "Why people are happy when they bring others down. Is the glee factor in reality in envy factor? She wondered, and so did Larry. Raquel Welch also had very candid opinions about the American male who she felt was always trying to prove himself to the American woman!!! She came across as a very mature women, and described Martha Stewart as a self-mad woman who made a terrible mistake.
The engrossing interview was interrupted by CNN for Breaking News to report that a bomb blast had killed the Chechan President in Grozny. There were other details too. That was a reminder of the times that we live in. I have spoken of the politics of our lives at the outset. This introduces the terrorism and the violence that characterise our lives, and from this there is no turning back for now. The war against terrorism must go on...?
And what does not have to say to the fact that for all the media build-up there was for the Shahbaz Sharif Interview on Sunday last for reasons that we still do not know, the dialogue between him and Shahid Masood never actually took place. It was mysterious to say the least. And when finally Shahbaz Sharif arrived in Lahore, and was sent back to Jeddah on the 11th of May, there was held a press conference by Information Minister Shaikh Rashid, who said that some private TV channels had unduly played up the return of the former Punjab chief minister.
Anyway when the ARY One failed to show Shahbaz (Sharif on Sunday night I was at once able to switch over to the Geo to see that delightful musical show "Gaeegi Duniya Geet Merey" which this week had a tribute to the Indian singer Asha Bhosle. A lively expressive; Anoo Kapoor makes the musical show unforgettable, and having mentioned him reminds me it has been a long time since one saw the sedate, graceful, Renuka Shahaney who used to appear with him, and team so well. That was about four years ago. No one has done as beautifully as Renuka, and she has gone, unsung.
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