No TV please!
Nani Palkhiwala, the emminent jurist and noted economist, doesn’t give the small screen its dues. “I do not watch television and am not at all familiar with the channels or the programmes,” he told us when we contacted him for a column of ours. In his polite refusal, he hasn’t denigrated the medium but he has certainly renounced it. We hope Mr Palkhiwala doesn’t regard the magic-box as an idiot-box.

Jaya Ganga premieres on STAR
Vijay Singh’s Jaya Ganga, which marked the debut of the promising young actress, Smriti Mishra, is being premiered on STAR Plus on January 16, at 10 pm. The film is based on Vijay Singh’s novel about the journey of a young Paris-based writer of Indian origin along the Ganges. Smriti plays the role of a courtesan while Asil Rais, Paris-based Indian actor, plays the role of the writer. The film has been critically acclaimed at festivals, so lovers of cinema will be in for a treat.

Kannada serial on Ramkrishna Paramahamsa
Still photographer K Praveen Naik turns director with a serial on the life and times of the great saint, Ramakrishna Paramhamsa, who was the Guru of Swami Vivekananda. The serial, entitled Devamanava Sriramkrishna Param-hamsa, is likely to go on air by the end of the month on Bangalore DD. The director also doubles up as the lead actor in the serial, playing the title role. In addition, he has also scripted the serial. “I am deeply involved in the activities of the Ramakrishna Ashram of Bangalore and am very influenced by the teachings of the great saint,” explains Naik. Praveen D. Rao will play the role of Swami Vivekananda.

Blinking matter
We know that Mukesh Khanna has a penchant for costume dramas. His romance with colourful get-ups and flowing beards dates back to the Mahabharat days, when he resurrected Pitamah Bheeshma on the small screen. And folks, he’s at it yet again, sporting royal raiment in Maharana Pratap (The Pride of India), where he plays Sangram Singh, the grandfather of Maharana Pratap. Better known as Rana Sangha, he too was a valiant warrior and the ruler of Mewar. Will the viewers be happy if we told them that the big man is seen sans his beard this time? Instead he has a wounded eye and several scars on his face which are the souvenirs of pride from the numerous wars that he has won. But Mukesh Khanna is none too happy with the make-up. “It was a bit irritating and I kept blinking all through,” he confessed at the screening party. His discomfiture was there for all to see in the scenes screened that evening. His eye may have been on the blink but his performance wasn’t, we assure you.

C.I.D. on Sony
Remember the dashing inspector of the popular Marathi serial, Ek Shoonya Shoonya? It was Shivaji Satam, who played the role so convincingly that even the Mumbai cops were taken in by his act. It seems traffic havaldars would often stop and salute him as he drove past their posts. Now, the guy’s back playing the investigating officer in C.I.D., a serial being directed by B.P.Singh of Aahat fame. For an evening of intrigue and investigation, tune into Sony at 9.30 pm every Wednesday. C.I.D. will go on air from January 21.

So, Let’s Yahoo! on STAR PLUS
Benaf, age 12 (cutie-pie from Hallo), Shweta, age 16 and Gayatri, age 21, get together to take the viewers on a musical cruise. The young hostesses will catch up with people of all ages on beaches, in gardens, pubs, discos and what-have-you. So, Let’s Yahoo! will pack in verve, vitality and the vibrance of youth. Soul-stirring and heart-warming, that’s what the show-makers promise. For a fun-filled song-yatra of pop, filmi, classical, English, Hindi, Marathi, Tamil... make sure to switch onto Star Plus on Sunday mornings at 8 am.

Parivartan on a new slot
Singhania and Ajmera, the warring business families of the popular soap, will now engage ina new duel, not on Monday at 9.00 pm but a day earlier at 8.30 pm on Zee. Just as the viewers were running out of patience with the manipulations, machinations and confrontations between the family heads, Beena and Govind Namdeo, the scriptwriters have incorporated an interesting twist in the tale. This, we are sure, will keep the Parivartan fans happy.

Maid of honour
Neha Sharad, who became immensely popular playing Arzoo, one of the quartet in Raman Kumar’s Tara, is busy doing a variety of roles these days. Take for instance her latest serial, Maharana Pratap (The Pride of India) wherein she plays Panna dai who is remembered for her loyalty. She sacrificed her own son to save the young prince of Chittor. From the clippings that were shown at a press conference, it was evident that Neha has done a brilliant job as the valiant maid and the bereaved mother. Neha told us that she is happy with the way her role has shaped up.

Aparajita’s Indian Snapshots
Aparajita, the versatile actress who is remembered for a variety of roles in Shyam Benegal’s Discovery Of India, Mrinal Sen’s Kabhi Door Kabhi Paas and Prakash Jha’s Vidroh, and has also compered several TV programmes, is back in circulation in an altogether new avtaar. This time she’s scripted, directed and produced Indian Snapshots, short telefeatures of 3 to 5 minutes duration, highlighting unusual facets of the Indian society. The five Snapshots that are on air currently are Victoria in Mumbai: A Halting Ride, Street-Smart Hindi Film Publicity, Indian Circus: Behind the Scene, Khandekar Times: The Clock Times, and The Making of the Tricolour: It’s Manufacture And Production. The telefeatures are being featured on Star Plus.

Suron Ka... gets a new look
The musical show, Suron Ka Kaarvan gets a face lift. A glam-glam pop singer takes over as the hostess. The show is being directed by Ravi Bhatia for Pravesh Bhatia. So if you're looking for an evening of melody, tune into ATN the coming Tuesday, 8 pm.