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For any programme,
the reach is the most important thing. It’s how one can reach
the masses and educate them through television. Doordarshan National
Network with the maximum reach is the channel for a children’s
serial Junior G. Having an astounding viewership all over the nation,
Junior G is fast becoming the craze with children. Based on the
lines of Shaktimaan, the maker of Junior G claims that it’s
inspired by the superhero but is not at all similar in context or
content to Shaktimaan.
Produced by
Aneesh Dev Jhhamb, Junior G is a children’s fantasy and adventure
TV serial. He says, “There was always a shortage of children’s
programmes, specially what Indian children could relate too. It’s
my message for all the children that to every evil intention, there’s
goodness and it triumphs. Shaktimaan surely was pioneer but there’s
a big market out there.”
Children today
have become choosy and that favoured Aneesh in creating Junior G.
He clarifies, “Junior G is one among the children, so children
could relate with him much more.” Junior G stands 15th on the
top 50 programmes - all channels, allover India, as per the latest
TAM reports.
But the timing,
that’s 12.30 to 1.00 pm slot on DD1, every Saturday, is a problem
for children who are in school or on their way home. Aneesh says,
“Reports have been gathered from various towns and cities where
children are making excuses to see Junior G every Saturday, without
fail. We are planning to shift the timings so that children can
enjoy their favourite programme every week.” The supporting
mail, which pours in from all across the country is proof of the
show’s popularity.
Aneesh is candid
to confess that the budget restricts hism to give good production
values. However, he still believes in quality and in a shoe-string
budget too, and is leaving no stone unturned. By and large, his
claim seems very authentic, considering the fact that the high TRPs
is the proof of Junior G’s fan following. Aneesh says, “We
cannot afford to cut corners in production because of sponsors.”
There’s a terrific line-up of sponsors like Parle, Cadbury’s,
Jyothi Laboratories, Colgate, Parry’s, Dabur, Rasna and Godrej.
—Johnny
D
‘Funny Thing
Called Love’
Crowning feather
A breezy adapation
of late Prof. Vasant Kanetkar’s popular Marathi drama Prema
Tuza Rang Kasa, Funny Thing Called Love, a play in ‘‘Hinglish’’
i.e. (Hindustan-English) premeried to a full house recently.
It is a heart
warming story of a family which colourfully depicts their childrens’
endeavour in seeking out ‘true love’. The mother’s
startling disposition, the hazards of communal wedlocks, and other
characters contribute to the hilarious angle of love, and make the
play lively.
The invincible
Bharat Dabholkar has adapted and directed the play, with his usual
unmistakable eye on sizzling humour and punch. He is the uncrowned
king of English stage entertainment in India. He rightly boasts
of drawing full houses almost in all the metropolises in India as
well as quite a few abroad, for a continuous period of the last
sixteen years. This is an achievement of no mean importance. Dabholkar’s
English play ‘Bottoms Up’ with four hundred performances
to its credit has the distinction of being the only Indian play
to be reviewed by ‘Time’ magazine. His flowing pleasing
and pointed direction of this V. Kanetkar’s Marathi original,
has made this English play throb with vigour and warmth.
Veteran actor
Hosi Vasunia acted with his usual aplomp, Liladhar Kambli, a Malvani
actor, acted his first ever role on the English theatre, with commendable
ease and finessee. Smita Jaykar, the typical mother in Hindi films,
acted as a quizzical middle age married lady, and a mother of a
teenaged daughter with perfect understanding. She looked a little
more than necessary tense now and then in between. Amongst, Rajiv
Paul, Aamir Dalvi, Dalreen Meyers, Ananya Dutta impressed the most
by her versatality in sartorial and acting talents.Producer Ashwini
Gidwani deserves credit for the innovative stage set, light effects
and music.The 40 year old late Prof. Kanetkar’s Marathi drama
staged over 4000 times a near record, and translated in different
languages as ‘Dhai Akhar’ ‘Padhore Popat’, ‘Prem
Tarang’, ‘Pyar Kare Dis’ and so on adds the crowning
feather ‘Funny thing called Love’.
—
LALITA BAPAT
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