A question was raised on a social network site about who watches what and how much on television . I found the answers very guarded. A few replied in total zero figure of idiot box time. While some said they watched television, but mostly of English series or English movies. The contents of Indian television production is not always very entertaining. The daily soaps where domestic drama unfolds with conniving, plotting protagonists, loud makeup and questionable acting skills, is best avoided by most. I can not blame any person for choosing not to get entertained by such jarring comic-tragedy drama. The writers of Greek tragedies and Sanskrit drama can be put to shame in front of these television story writers. They have been spinning the same yarn for years, the viewers are not completely tired yet. But I also understand that for my Amma Tai or Kanta bai, this is happy time,and who is judging after all !  Few honest answers impressed me. They simply said that they enjoy tv viewing from Big Boss to mythology as it fills up their evening hours. Now to admit that one watches Big Boss is a brave act in itself. I have been seeing social messages saying that people have saved hours and hours of good time by not watching the show. I sincerely hope they have done something productive with those valuable hours saved, or else why make a statement out of it. 

Mythology on the other hand can be both entertaining and engrossing. The grandeur of the sets and the actors elaborate costumes itself is enough at times to hold the viewers transfixed. I have learnt quite a few insights about the epics only through the television shows of mythology. The research team generally does a good job. I know the basic story line of the two great epics, Mahabharata and Ramayana, but cannot boast to have read them in their original , unabridged version. B.R. Chopra’s ,Mahabharata had gained great popularity on Indian television in the late1980’s. People would put all their Sunday morning activity on hold to watch this epic story on television. I have seen a few people sitting hands folded,moist eyed ,as Lord Krishna delivered his ‘vaani ‘ on life and battle, drawing a parallel between the two. Times have changed we would think ,but even today mythological series holds its pedestal amongst viewers. “Siya ke Ram ” is the latest ongoing serial on television, telling the tale of Ramayana in a new light, new time and newer actors.But there is one serious problem here. Mr Ram and Mrs. Ram ( Sita ) are two very good looking actors ( strictly in my own opinion ) .The part these serials play on our religious psyche cannot be questioned or argued upon. The mental images of Gods and Goddesses in our mind has been strongly etched over a period of time through various paintings . One such example is Raja Ravi Varma’s paintings of goddesses Saraswati and Laxmi .They are so beautiful and popular that even the idol sculptors give their work of art , faces identical to his paintings. But when a good looking, gym toned muscled, gently smiling young man ,decked up in the finest jewels ,comes on our big LED screen as Lord Rama, our mind gets all confused. After that whenever we try to think of Lord Ram , the image of this gentleman floats in our mind. Believe me it does not help at all in prayers ; even for this idol worshipping, truly ritualistic me. Of all I know, this person in question would be at that exact time sipping coffee at Starbucks , albeit sans make up. Even my imagination is not bold enough to think about our on screen Ram in some pub with his lady love sipping chilled beer. If he has to be seen with any lady , she has to be the country’s beloved Sita maiya. Even after the camera has stopped rolling, the show must go on , for it is not easy playing God and Goddess, on or off lime light ! But Mr. Ram ( I mean the actor, sorry I don’t know your name ), please don’t play as a contestant in BigBoss 10. If you do, we will start hiccuping each time we pray to The Lord and say Amen. 

The TRP ratings will soon shift focus to other reality shows. Reality shows garner good popularity amongst the young and old alike. Soon on television Men and women will dance like a pro, contestants will endanger their life with snakes and ladders, some will start cooking the gourmet platter. And we the viewers will feel like the ultimate Boss. Wether we vote to make our government or not, as a country of tv viewers we like to vote for reality shows. We have the power , the remote power .Moreover the men and women begging for the votes are so prettily dressed up, blinking at us with those big eyes just like our Barbies and Kens . Our heart melts, we vote , totally trusting, the naive , sweet, us, the viewers ! Every time the favorite contestant is voted out we shriek fowl. We feel cheated, we call the program rigged, we hate the production house, and next evening, sharp at nine we are in front of our television sets. Wonder who has the last laugh ? 

Did I mention that I am one of those…’Oh no, I don’t waste my time on television ‘. That big flat screen on my bedroom wall is only for viewing news and sports by my husband. So how do I know so much about the programming detail ? It is elementary my dear Watson ! Oops ! But then who doesn’t watch Sherlock and House. So what they are ‘foreign’…please see the ‘Sunny’ side of life too. We are the game changers. See you at nine tomorrow . Till then if we want the answers, we must keep asking the questions.