Satyamev Jayate - Looking At The Bright Side...

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hindu4lyf

@hindu4lyf

Rocker

+ 2

Posted: 13 years ago

#41

Originally posted by: heroin.

Now, you can't dress up a below-poverty-line man in an Armaani suit, put him on TV and then claim he suffers everyday, can you? You might find that believable but it would be hard for me to digest. What I'm trying to say is, you gotta show reality the way it is, even without sugarcoating the medium.

Of course, you connect with things differently than I do, so I guess we'll have to agree to disagree on that. Locations would have made a huge difference, IMHO.

Had Aamir done what you're suggesting, I'm pretty sure people would blame him for emotional atyachar. I didn't think Aamir was sugercoating anything, would it really make a huge difference if these stories were told in a doctor's clinic or in a small village? Where is he supposed to find a place that affects the 'average, middle class man'? Because fact is that this is an issue that is happening everywhere, so should they show a household in the Hiranandani Estate where doctors, engineers, lawyers etc are encouraging this practice? Would that help make the show any more realistic? :S

I also think it'd take up a lot of show time if they were to do that because the show tries to focus on other issues too such as various efforts by social activists, opinions from professionals, official statistics etc.

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AreYaar

@AreYaar

Icon

+ 19

Posted: 13 years ago

#42

Originally posted by: heroin.

You didn't get my comparison there. What I was actually trying to say is that you can't sugarcoat the presentation of an important/relevant/hard hitting truth of society and then claim that it has become a nationwide menace. The below-poverty-line man symbolized the issue (=female foeticide) and the Armaani suit - the dolled up presentation.

Anyway, to each his own. *peace* \/

Oh ok I see what you are trying to say but yeah I still don't feel that the presentation was sugarcoated in anyway...rather I found the presentation to be more ENCOMPASSING about EVERY aspect of the problem as I said previously in the thread...a show like Crime Patrol can show this all in a more stark/grim fashion, sure...but I don't think that format is conducive to showing a full scale analysis like SMJ did and for that I think the studio setting worked...it didn't make it "glossy" and hence disconnecting to me...it was hard-hitting and at the same time it forced me to look at the issue from EVERY angle and not just the hard-hitting horror of the crime...

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Neeta

@U-No-Poo

Stunner

+ 5

Posted: 13 years ago

#43

Originally posted by: hindu4lyf

Had Aamir done what you're suggesting, I'm pretty sure people would blame him for emotional atyachar. I didn't think Aamir was sugercoating anything, would it really make a huge difference if these stories were told in a doctor's clinic or in a small village? Where is he supposed to find a place that affects the 'average, middle class man'? Because fact is that this is an issue that is happening everywhere, so should they show a household in the Hiranandani Estate where doctors, engineers, lawyers etc are encouraging this practice? Would that help make the show any more realistic? :S

I also think it'd take up a lot of show time if they were to do that because the show tries to focus on other issues too such as various efforts by social activists, opinions from professionals, official statistics etc.

@Bold: Watch this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZupVgIXybAo&feature=related - Is the location torturing you emotionally? And btw, this is no high-voltage location, it's a regular Delhi University girls' college.

@Red: Oh, I don't know. What about a local park? or the local gully cricket ground behind RWA flats in Vasant Kunj? Or the Ramlila maidan near New Delhi railway station? (don't know about Mumbai but I'm sure it has such places too)

See, I'm not saying that because it is happening everywhere, the show should distribute it's shooting locations according to the income groups in our country. What I'm saying is that the entire presentation of the show gives a very talk-show feel which detracts from the graveness of the issue, at least initially. But that's just my opinion and you don't have to agree.

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kavishilpa

@kavishilpa

Explorer

Posted: 13 years ago

#44

loved ur post...so well written...yes, the entire episode was brilliantly executed but what really pulled me in is the begining itself...the introduction part was so precise and clear in thoughts...the way he projected was just so outreaching...every word was real, exactly how would any normal, service class, business class, rich, average making person would think...i got connected and bang on, i was with the flow right away...and from there on i couldn't take my eyes off the journey that he took all of us with him...this guy understand the nerve of a common man...and he also knows how to reach out to the masses...i hope we all put in as much as we can bcoz ultimately this show is about us...we common man have to get invovled and make it happen. thank you aamir for everything u do with ur movies, social causes, ads and now by this show...u r a true hindustani...Satyamev Jayate.

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642126

Hibernated

Posted: 13 years ago

#45

@without-fathom

I just loved your post!! And brilliant use of words, finely expressed each feeling!

I agree with each and every word. 😊

This show was not just a show for me. The way it was put together was not merely touching, but also awakening! It's the first time that heart and mind were called to, by a show! SMJ made me think, made me angry (at ourselves, society and system), made me cry, shocked me, made me aware but also gave me hope on how I can be a change myself!

The best thing I found was Aamir's constant reiteration of the fact that change lay with US and even smallest steps taken by us would go a long way in making a difference!

We think we'd need to start our own NGOs or fast in front of the MLA's residence to get some resolution passed etc. - to take action! So we think we can't do all this - leave it as it is or leave it to social workers to deal with things themselves! 😕

SMJ was brilliant in telling us the basics, removing our notions about class in social problems (oh yeah we're PhDs we don't do such stuff!), taking us to roots! It made us think about issues we had simply read about or spoken about in some elocution - got marks, got prizes and left off! It made us conscious to things we see, but not really feel strongly about as we should!

I was reminded of our maid who was beaten up and mentally tortured for never being able to get a son! I know a lot of people who still blame only the woman on sex of the child! Many of them are educated, but would rather dispose off a ''defective'' bahu than consider that sex of baby depended on their son's sperm!

We think it's everyday stuff or stuff of textbooks, something to remain in nexus of NGOs and Parliament. We never thought what we do...or what our lack of action could lead to! We keep demeaning girls, even as girls we have low confidence ourselves - we don't realise what this mentality does to society and to whole humankind!

Watching SMJ I felt I could have been a change had I tried to intervene in my maid's family matter back then or even by countering relatives when they blessed pregnant women in the family ''may they have a son''!Seeing those 3 women pick themselves up and rebuild their lives with their girls in tow, gave me hope and a lot of confidence as a female myself.

Not that I have not heard or read about victims or issues before, not that I haven't seen survivors, doers, activists earlier - but that I have not seen it all on one platform - with so much theraav. They gave everyone time to talk. No one shouted dramatically. The facts, stories, expert views flowed smoothly without any rush and without being judgemental. No one even dissed men or blamed patriarchy - lest one ends up glorifying women and detesting men. I am glad they maintained balance by showing even men who were affected by or working on this issue.

It was a show for everyone...for a person who has no idea of what it's all about, for someone who's been through it, for someone who wants to make a difference and a refresher for those who know but keep it in back of their minds as just another piece of information.

After ages the family sat together on a Sunday morning, saw a show - that too on hardhitting issues, ruminated, cried or debated intensely - so many emotions aroused. Unlike those shows which are over after a few laughs or leave you clueless how debate/fight ended and why mic was snatched so soon from audience!

Congratulations to Aamir Khan, SMJ and STAR team. Dil pe lag gayi aur public pehli baar toh baithi thi, aagey bhi inshallah baithegi! 👏

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without-fathom

@without-fathom

Rocker

Posted: 13 years ago

#46

I'm sure most people have read this article already, but just in case it was missed by anyone, here goes a TB update -

http://www.india-forums.com/tellybuzz/buzzin-hot/11752-gehlot-promises-aamir-war-on-foeticide.htm

Interesting word given by the CM. So I am not raised in India to claim to know how the inside mechanism works, but the general image has always been about promises falling through - lofty words meaning little!

Any takes on how and why this could actually happen. To whatever little or more extent? I guess it's one good sign that someone at that level is at least going out and giving his word on the record? If Aamir's past record getting involved with politico-social causes is anything to go by (Narmada issue for example) he usually manages to really get on the wrong side of the leaders...

But I guess that's the difference launching a cause and striving for resolve in this manner makes.

Neeta, I want to add this now - since I never got back here to it last couple days (sorry everyone!) - I think this is what most people were trying to say when they were defending the "drawing room setting" of the show not being consequential to what Aamir set off to do.

Here's my personal take. There are always several ways of approaching the means and modes to bring about a resolution/cure to a problem. The cure itself may often be singular, but the means can be multiple, each effective in its own dimension.

And while something like CP can effectively hit a certain segment of the audience, even be richer in content "subjectively speaking" when exemplifying an issue, Aamir's show IS in fact dealing entirely with a discussion basis to prompt a change of thought process. He reiterated few times over, that his motive was not being an instrument of justice itself, but only bringing about a wave of opinions that would compel and hasten for the responsible instruments to get into action already!

And whether or not this whole CM going on record thing works out - point is, he's managed to grab the eyeballs. And that accounts for something, when you talk of a nation where human resource CAN in fact make that degree of a difference, to compel the system to undo prevalent laxity and actually give in to pressure of majority opinion! It's happened before, and good or bad, even if in those count few rare case, it has made a difference!

When I think of myself, a viewer who doesn't even live in that land being referred to, and probably never will, the idea of "how will I be influenced" becomes even more vague than Aamir mentioned for a common man who goes on with his life desensitized to the matter because it hasn't affected them directly yet. And still, I find myself sitting down to watch, introspect, discuss, and just sort of dwell over the matter much more, prompted by this show. In watching something like CP, I would probably be far too focused on convulsing over and getting repulsed by the projection of an example case, to actually dwell enough along all tangents and angles of the problem in objectivity. What I'm trying to say is, that Aamir's show has balanced the content in a manner that hits you enough to not turn your head away, yet retains this "discussion aura" over and above it all where you don't lose the objectivity of thought process to simply the impact of how hard you were hit by something! And problem solving, in my opinion, happens best when you can remain at least to some extent clinical about it - even if that sounds insensitive.

So taking away nothing from CP or what they have set out to do and manage well I'm sure - Aamir's show is attacking the problem in another manner altogether. And the choice to endorse one over the other is entirely a matter of individual preference but I think on a scale measuring mass connectivity, Aamir and his team reach out much further. He doesn't glorify or tone down the problem, but he trades off enough of the gore with some simpler seeming plain talk and fact exchange that actually allows you the kind of un-horrified perspective to dwell over the issue and all its legs.

---

ps: Everyone who came by with comments and replies adding to the discussion, thanks a bunch! And sorry about my general tardiness getting back here... 😊 Hoping to continue seeing most or all of you through the course of this show...

Edited by without-fathom - 13 years ago

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undisclosed

@undisclosed

Trailblazer

+ 2

Posted: 13 years ago

#47

awesome take on the first epi...i am not indian...but being aware of the issue tackled in the first epi i find it awesomely refreshing that the newer generations (like Amir) are willing to think differently and really push for changes...its really the people of their own nations who have to work for their own societies equalities...as most outsiders will be looked at as not being able to understand the culture...the epi was very informative and well rounded...and even though it was emotional to watch...it was not overly dramatic👏

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Kavya

@Bazinga

Sparkler

+ 3

Posted: 13 years ago

#48

JZee, I know I am late here but that was an awesome post 👏. I posted about the show- it's inception and it's intent in the CC. Let me just put them here.

I really liked Satyameva Jayate. I think I misunderstood the concept earlier but now I see what Aamir is trying to accomplish through this show and I , as an Indian and as a human being, will do all I can to support the cause. The stories about female infanticide were distressing to say the least and it is even more shocking that HIGHLY educated people endorse such practices but kudos to the team has done such a detailed research and presented it so realistically 👏. As an Indian, I owe it to myself and owe it to my country to watch this show and try to contribute in whatever way I can. I honestly believe that every human being has to watch it and Indians, ESPECIALLY, MUST watch it. We owe it to ourselves as humans, as women, as INDIANS. After a LONG TIME, I actually FELT something for my country, I FELT that I COULD contribute to make my country a better place after all. What I really loved about it is the amount of research that went into putting facts together and the best part is it was not biased or selective in presenting the facts to paint a very emotional and depressing picture- no, the intent was not to generate the TRPs by hitting on the audience's sensitive emotions, it was not to bring awareness,it was not to turn people into philanthropists, it was an HONEST , SINCERE attempt to present facts, without any doctoring , it was a GENUINE EFFORT to create IMPACT by leaving the decision to those watching, the idea was to provoke those thoughts that we had deeply buried somewhere and had given up hope on, it was a HOPE that all is not lost after all, that HOPE still prevails, if only, if only we choose to embrace it...

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Kavya

@Bazinga

Sparkler

+ 3

Posted: 13 years ago

#49

Originally posted by: My-Simi

I had read about the Haryana Govt's initiative to seek IDs from women enrolled for prenatal and postnatal care at hospitals. There is already an act in force in India, the Prenatal Diagnostic Technique Act that prevents the sonologists from disclosing the fetal sex to the expectant parents. The solution however rests in the clinicians practicing and abiding by the rule. I could not actually understand how the Photo ID card will serve any purpose.

At this point I fail to understand what purpose a photo ID card would serve in this regard but may be the Government intends to find such people and try to educate them? But yes, the culprits are those who are ENDORSING it , especially the doctors. Their offence is unpardonable in my personal opinion. However, one of my friends' friend pointed out an interesting thing - what about the women who themselves want to know the sex of the foetus and want to get it aborted? It is not always the case of the woman's in-laws or husband who force them to do it, sometimes the women themselves have this regressive thinking. How to address that? May be, the government's step is in that direction and they intend to educate such women? And most of the times, these women are illiterate too and may not be aware that it is illegal to determine the sex of the child before birth and through the photo ID, it will also help them to record all such cases and devise methods to tackle the problem. I do get your point about doctors being guilty but the solution of punishing them may not be enough, it is important to address the root of the problem as well, who knows, if these women understand and take a conscious decision to not get the sex determined, it will eventually show its effect on the doctors' practice and they might be forced to stop it. I am not sure about this but does a law exist that immediately revokes the doctors' license if they are found to go against law to help the pregnant woman or her family determine the sex of their child?

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Satyamev Jayate - Looking At The Bright Side... - Page 5

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