I’ll get straight to the point. The show is nothing short of
brilliant. And now I know why people call Aamir Khan a perfectionist. A few
things I picked up from the show:
- Packaging: The first episode focused on an issue which we have all studied about in our history books. Female Infanticide. Something prevalent even before India achieved independence. We all know it happens. We read, we hear but nothing beats the visual impact. I presume that is why the producers made the victims talk. Tell us their story. Victims ranging from an educated doctor to a poor illiterate lady. Stating how one of them had 6 abortions in 8 years. It shocked the audience would be putting it lightly. It brought tears. So far, so good. Message conveyed that such instances still happen on a large scale, not only in the rural areas but in the metropolitan cities as well. (My thoughts: Mission accomplished, well done!) But wait, there’s more. Bombard them with statistics. Show them the after effects; tell them how it is going to affect each one of them in the long term. The audience is convinced that something has to be done. But how? This is where it gets better. Show them the path forward. Show them real examples where the problem has been eliminated. Give them hope. And then suggest solutions. And yes, take the lead. Aamir says he is going to write a letter to the Rajasthan government where the problem is at its peak. He gives a big smile and asks for support. Master stroke. Viewers are smitten. Finish up with a soul stirring song about the girl child. Not only was the message conveyed but in a manner that everyone wanted to be a part of the change. A change for the better. How many of us can do that in 90 minutes?
- Marketing: The advertisement for the show has been on television for the past 3-4 weeks. But not once, did it let out what it was all about. Keep building up the suspense. Enough to make people look forward to it but not so much to put them off. Perfection.
- Time slot: They wanted to make sure people actually sit down and watch the whole thing. No interruptions, no distractions. And of course, make a lot of people watch it. Reach out to as many as possible. It could have premiered in the prime slot, which I think is the 8pm-11pm slot for most channels. This is when viewership is at its peak. But there are too many distractions and too much competition in this area. Prime time news, hit movies, daily soaps and not to forget the task of making dinner. They need the whole family together, doing nothing else. So shift to Sunday. And shift to a time when there’s nothing much on television. 11 am. Now the only task left: sell it to the audience so well that they switch on TV just for this show. I’m pretty sure they have achieved it *grins*
- Making a difference: Everything aside: the big brands associated, a popular channel, an award winning actor, the right marketing and publicity and the huge sum involved; most shows get all of this right but still don’t do well. THE major reason I feel the show is going to do well and really, really well is because it wants to make a difference. Help people. Save lives. It doesn’t say ‘All this is happening, look at the society we live in, shame on us’ but actually ‘Yes, such things are happening, let us do something about it, let us build a better India’ The perspective is important. Very important. By bringing to light such incidents, it instills hope, it celebrates those individuals who have fought these battles and won – the unsung heroes. It gives people examples to look up to. Living examples. It makes a few realize that their battles are much simpler than many around them and teaches them to be grateful. All in 90 minutes.
I’ll take it a step higher. The victims who
shared their stories knew pretty well that this would bring great shame to
those who made them suffer. People who were once family. But they put the
greater good above it all. I salute that. They inspired confidence into all
those women who suffer silently to speak up. When these cases go on trial,
because of the number of people who know what really happened, the pressure on
the judiciary to be just would be more. Another advantage. This might
indirectly make the masses aware that such cases shall not be tolerated.
There
are a few more angles, which can be probed in depth, but I’ll save that for
another day (because you should always keep up the suspense) The one major
lesson I learnt is this: no matter how much money we make, our worth will
always be measured in the difference we make in the lives around us. Concluding
in the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson:
“To laugh often and much;
To win the respect of intelligent people and
affection of children;
To earn the appreciation of honest critics
And endure the betrayal of false friends;
To appreciate beauty;
To find the best in others;
To leave the world a bit better whether by a
healthy child,
A garden patch or a redeemed social condition;
To know that even one life has breathed
easier because you have lived.
This is to have succeeded.”
