Panelists rip Jariwala apart

When the hostess is hot as red chilli, her cookery show naturally perks up curiosity levels. NRI model Padmalakshmi's show on Travel and Living channel is watchable only because she makes a striking anchor. Clad in western casuals with minimal make up, Padma takes us on a voyage of Southern Spain and introduces the viewer to vintage Spanish fare such as Gazpacho, olives, ham and even wine. Lakshmi's high profile status ensures that she gets the best of experts to demonstrate these traditional recipes but what the lady lacks is the ability to hook the viewer. Her situation is similar to Aishwarya Rai whose pretty face is what one focuses on while watching her movies. Lakshmi needs to modulate her voice — her accent is flawless but the pitch is flat, she lacks energy and her face is expressionless!

Perhaps Lakshmi should take her cues from the indefatigable Barkha Dutt who can moderate a conversation on the most clichd of topics like feminism with remarkable enthusiasm. Wonder what prompted Barkha to focus on this issue in We the People considering that there is no immediate news peg. And seriously the Shabana Azmis of the world need to get off their high horse and rid themselves of their intellectual pretensions. Her's and in fact the rest of the panelists' condescending attitude towards Shefali Jariwala was really uncalled for. It sure looked like item girl Jariwala was only called on this show so that everyone could poke fun at her attempts to "commodify her body."

Why was Jariwala singled out for criticism — is it only because she agreed to come on the show? Would these so-called eminent panelists have the guts to ask a Kareena Kapoor why she did that ridiculously tarty number in Don? And to make matters worse, even Dutt seemed to have joined in the revellery. And the manner in which the show ended was pathetic. Prominent theatre director Mahabanoo Kotwal pessimistically shakes her head and points out that things will never really improve for Indian women. Thanks, Ms Kotwal. That is so reassuring!

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