Anu Ranjan

Elections 2014 are by far going to be the most anticipated and exciting polls ever. Given we’re barely few weeks away,campaigning, crusading and speechifying politicians are all around us – many on the streets,some reaching our doorsteps and almost all pervading our homes and other personal space via our television screens, computers and mobile gadgets. Twitter, Facebook, other social media and our News Channels are wholly and completely throbbing with around-the-clock updates about candidates, what they’re doing, what they’re saying, where they’re going, what they’re planning and so on. All else has faded into oblivion. Well, it’s going to be an anxious couple of months for many, till May 16, when the results are declared. Can’t wait till my voting day arrives.

Other than that but somewhat related is the upcoming IPL Season 7. They’ve once again been shooed out of the country, at least till the final stage of the tournament by when election results will be out. Irrespective, if all goes on as usual there will be a lot of eyeballs shifting from the usual entertainment channels to the sport. Hopefully producers of our soaps and reality shows are gearing up to counter this excitement.

Also related to the upcoming elections was an event I had the pleasure of attending again this year. The India Today Conclave in New Delhi featured many political bigwigs. Among the sessions I attended was one featuring the AAP founder Arvind Kejriwal. He was a remarkable speaker but the excitement and almost fever high pitch created by his presence same last year was practically absent this year. He’s still a very good guy and we need people like him to enter the political arena but this time around he wasn’t quite as inspiring or even half as convincing as he was just 12 months ago. He gave us all hope last year, he showed us all that there was a light at the end of the dark tunnel but he failed to convince us that he was the torchbearer of this light. Too many questions raised, too many ambiguous answers… He’s now a politician. Hope he can go back to being the Aam Aadmi, the savior we once believed he was. Like I said, our country needs more people like him, like he once used to be.

The new season of Satyamev Jayate, once again anchored by Aamir Khan, has commenced. I haven’t had a chance to watch any episode thus far but given the mixed reviews I definitely need to get down to it soon. Many people have been praising the show and Aamir for issues raised but equally many have been criticizing him for not practicing what he’s preaching. For whatever it’s worth to you, I will watch the rest of the season and will give my verdict soon… actually, not soon enough because from what I’ve understood, the channel and producers are trying a new strategy to keep the show alive for the better part of the year – for this, they’re dividing this 12 episode season into three equal parts. The first four episodes have been aired; the next four will be telecast in the middle of the year and the final four at the year-end. Hope their strategy works – either ways, will give you my bit as soon as I know it.

On that note, it’s farewell for now. My good wishes to all political candidates and parties. Hoping what’s best for the nation emerges victorious. Have a good month, enjoy the cricket mania, make sure you go out and vote and until next time, happy reading!



Anu Ranjan
anu@indiantelevisionacademy.com