DC: The reality of reality-ASA

I had a nice little plan. To get into Jhalak Dikhla Jaa 5 mood, I was going to watch Aasman Se Aage (Life OK), a show that throws sharp-sharp light on reality dance shows. Iss show ka concept bahut jana-pehchana hai. DC, or Dev Chopra, is the judge, producer and director of a telly dance competition. Only two things matter to DC: ek toh DC himself, and doosra, TRPs. Every decision he takes is either to satisfy his own ego, or it's an offering to the TRP God.

DC's dance show has two more judges — Sanam, a cross-dresser celebrity with a mind of her own, and item girl Mahua. There are also contestants, a screaming anchor, and nodding studio audience. There are big prizes and stardom to be won, dramatic long pauses before winners and losers are announced, rona-dhona and everything else that a dance show has. Except that Aasman Se Aage is not a reality dance show. This is a show that shows the real reality of reality dance shows. And it's not the mood for a spoof; it's more in expose mode.

Badi hi chalaki se the creators of Aasman Se Aage have mixed and matched the tension and excitement of reality shows and the tried and tested saazish-syappa scenarios of our daily soaps.

We get little on-stage dancing, but there are lots of candid, parda-faash moments. During the "breaks" in the dance competition, we listen in on the judges' creepy politics, watch pushy parents cursing other parents and rival contestants exchanging deadly glances. We are privy to off-camera bitching, snide remarks, killer looks, and kaun sa contestant kis judge ka favourite hain, aur kyun. We see how contestants, and TRPs, are manipulated by flogging stories of poverty and family tragedies.

But, just as I was getting in the mood, Kya Hua Tera Vada (Sony) mein Jatinji ne entry mari aur ek hi neat stroke mein sab ke tote-shote uda diye.

Oye hoye! Kya moment tha when Jatinji told Mona's in-laws, "If you don't mind, I'd like to marry your bahu." Hain! Everyone was giving priceless hakka-bakka expression and Mona's ex-husband Pradeep toh itni tension mein tha that he was swaying aage-peeche, as if trying to push out last bits of obstinate potty.

Mona, who was upset and muttering "how can I remarry... I'm not a piece of furniture that anyone can come and claim me", took me back to Salma Agha's famous line to Raj Babbar in Nikaah, "Mein tairti, tairti thak gayi hoon Haider, mujhe kinara chahiye." Monaji, a brief halt hi sahi, kuch der toh Jatinji ke dil ke bageeche mein tehel lo. Hai, bada maza aayega.