Television has always been perceived as a media for infotainment. So far, the accent has greatly been on entertainment and anything which attempted to spell information would be relegated to the current affairs channels or general entertainment channel like Sahara One. The latter has been noted for some informative and qualitative shows e.g. Haqeeqat which took a leaf out of reality and dramatized the true stories of people who suffered grave social iniquities, from the news breaking pedophiles to mentally disturbed patients who were victims of harsh treatment by caretakers to dowry deaths. At the same time, the leading channels - STAR, Sony and Zee confined themselves to daily soaps and myriad family sagas. The name of the game was TRPs. One simply cannot undermine the power of television. So far it has categorically 'sold' the glamour and gloss of its prime time soaps. Can it not be harnessed into selling social change? Recently, however, the satellite channels seem to be getting focused in the choice of new shows, especially those with a social relevance. Whilst commercial breaks peddle a lotion/cream which lightens the complexion for a wannabe bride. Zee TV first showed the way with Saat Phere, where a dark skinned girl is put on the marriage market. Socially dusky skinned girls are unacceptable. The channel reiterates its message by placing the show in a prime slot. At 9.30 pm - it's alright to be dark skinned and beautiful, the channel indicates. Now the show will be followed by another ground breaking show -Ghar Ki Laskhmi: Betiyan. A story of the Garodia family which has four daughters and a son. But the daughters and gender discrimination are the thrust of the series. It is in direct competition to STAR Plus' Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii, how many eyeballs will switch over, remains to be seen. STAR One on the other hand has an answer ready with Betiyaan Apni Yaa...Paraaya Dhan a story of six daughters and a son born into a zamindar family. The father who rebukes his daughters because for him they are a burden. Paraaya Dhan may be considered the story of many a home in India where it is believed that a son will take the family name further and a daughter is paraya dhan. Both these shows if tackled well could be indicative of infotainment as along with family life, they will signal the import of daughters being given their place on the family table as equals. A facet which in most of India is not practiced nor accepted.
Shows like this may have made their appearance on Doordarshan, but given the gloss, the glamour and the satellite channel spin, both these serials Ghar Ki Laskhmi: Betiyan and Betiyaan Apni Yaa...Paraaya Dhan could be weapons of a social awareness. Neither channel is going to let the shows only speak for themselves. Ground events and other promotionals are being resorted to. Zee TV could even lobby for an International Daughter's Day.
It is truly a welcome sign that channels are going beyond trite soap operas and using the fiction format, the gloss and lavishing the same attentions to shows which will purport and encourage a much needed social change, especially among the classes who look to TV for their daily dose of relaxation and absorb all it can offer in the prime time lime a piece of sponge. Somewhere, some way a daughter will truly stake her claim as ghar ki laxmi and not be the paraaya dhan.
Years ago, Canadian TV channels telecast an animated show called Karate Kids that was based on a popular comic strip. Each episode would have a great storyboard with an underlying message which included drugs, safe sex, etc. Likewise, in the US the ever so popular He-Man series always had a moral message at the end. Hence each episode was built up to deliver the message. Both these shows are as representative of the western TV medium as are The Bold & the Beautiful, Dynasty, Friends and Baywatch.
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