Was watching this new series - Heroes. Initially, seemed like mayhem - characters getting introduced after every commercial break and each one of them having weird powers. Looks like something out of Nickelodeon? Well, it is. Its as crazy as it sounds. But some how these firangs have the capability to take a bizzare topic and turn it into 'edge of your seat' interesting (think Independence Day and X-Files). We don't for once think of it as stupid and impossible. Hell, its the impossible factor that draws us to it. We call it - entertaining the child within us. Superman, Batman, Spiderman - hugely successful films - not because of special effects but simply because they are larger than life.
Shaktiman - I don't remember being an avid fan of this serial but I have cousins who swear by it (well, I don't think thy've reached that age yet!). And I scorn. How can you like a serial as inane as Shaktiman? It shows a middle-aged, potbellied man saving lives and the world - in a costume. Is it because we don't have the CGI and special effects upto the standard? No. Its our mind, and the way we think. West is the best. However crazy, dumb, stupid, incomprehensible it may be. Dhoom 2 is a smash hit. I know why. I will probably never like Shaktiman, I am blinded by the phoren culture. But someday I would want to appreciate those K-serials as much as Baywatch and Beverly Hills.
8 comments:
O ya.. well said.. Phoren culture is all about taking a small thing and getting the best out of it ( read exaggerating).. When we look at a broader perspective ( not just films and Television),this country is driven by best marketing techniques where in they give importance to the smallest level of smallest things.
Good observation indeed...
The simple purpose of creating a character like Shaktiman for indian public (adult and child alike) is to cultivate:
1. Indianness and to have a character with which indians can identify.
2. It is by no means to compete or compare with foreign movie character.
3.The story,character,surroundings,circumstances in to which Shaktiman operates is all the way Indian.Its latent purpose is to invoke Indian culture,ethos and values,which are forgotten and dieing out in this rat race of modernization with West.
4. Which character we Indian children can look upon and thrive to be like them? Answer is allmost no one.Can we depend upon movie Hero? or Religious leader or Politician or Sportsman Or Police or other public figure? Because they are hollow and will melt like a wax when facing the real Heat.
So let there be OUR Shaktiman,even though I dis agree he being pot bellied,who is atlest invoking Indian ness in to our kids.
At lest we have something...let alone fictitious be...to look upon,
Till that time generate a new character...
VG
k-serials compared to baywatch and beverly hills???
nooooooooooooooooooooo.
its the bold and beautiful of our 5-generation, extra-martyred, beautiful saree donning loving bharitya junta.
lol....yea Bold and the Beautiful sounds about right!!! but I wasn't into tthat...atleast we all watched baywatch and beverly hills..hence the comparision!!
well, i'm not sure it's so much about 'phoren culture' as it is about quality. i mean, yeah, we're all told we belong in another country and are living in denial.. (at least i am told that :|) but it seems to me that if i'm asked to choose between the 'k' serials and baywatch..i'd choose neither.
...and although most of our generation is awed by the phoren culture thing, there are still some of us who pick something because we like it, and it reads quality. not because we're blinded by it.
but then again, i dont think i know anyone who'd like shaktimaan better than heroes. so i guess i havent seen both sides to the story! :)
numb.lock - i do agree with quality being the thing that drags us there, but look at a movie like Kkrissh (i really dont know how many k's come in here - forgive me!!) - it had quality no doubt, and it was a hit too - but i heard a lot more of negative critisicm (an indian super hero?? Blah.) than appreciation. Anyway, individual opinion!! Free speach aye?
If you are an indian and still writing this, then sorry to say, you said it right, you are blind
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