[India Report] Indians captivated by TV talk show “Satyamev Jayate”

This is Amir khan anchoring Satyamev Jayate, a popular TV talk show of India.

Nowadays, people of India are captivated by a TV talk show titled Satyamev Jayte. It would not be an exaggeration if it is said that Satyamev Jayate is the show dominating Indian television these days. People’s craze regarding this show was evident from its very first episode, when the Satyamev Jayate website [www.satyamevjayate.in] crashed due to a very heavy response from its audiences.

Its popularity can be easily judged by the fact that for the first time in Indian history a program is telecasted on all channels of a private network, named ‘Star network’, altogether with the national channel ‘Doordarshan’. It is also dubbed and simulcast in other Indian languages such as Bengali, Malayalam, Marathi, Tamil and Telugu. Star Plus organised a special screening of the first episode of the show in some villages in Gujarat, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh where the villagers do not have access to television.

Satyamev Jayate, is an Indain chat show, aired in some of the channels of Indian television. It is anchored by one of the most famous Bollywood star Amir Khan.

Amir Khan talks with a woman, ill terated for being low in caste, in the show. (Photo : www.startv.in)

Satyamev Jayate are originally two ‘Sanskrit’ words which can be termed in English as ‘Truth Alone Prevails’. From the title of the show we can guess about what the show is about. It is about discovering and representing in front of all some truth or may be some facts, which is prevailing over the society with its ill effects amounting to a paramount loss in the society.

According to the team of Satyamev Jayate, “we believe that Satyamev Jayate is not afraid to look truth in the eye, take its hand and embrace it. After all, it belongs to all of us. When we recognize the truth, then we know it is time to think.”

Based on its content, it was mostly referred as a talk show discussing social issues like child labour, health problems and other issues affecting the country. The program has discussed about some of the grave issues which still persist in India. Episodes have covered issues like caste system and untouchabilty, honour killing, dowry system, medical malpractice, child sexual abuse, female foeticide in India and some other grave issues which is still pursuing.

The team of Satyamev Jayate researches on the topic selected and invites guests who are somehow related or affected by the issues. They also call upon the experts, and the audiences present in the show and discuss with them the causes and the possible ways to rectify that matter.

Amir Khan discusses with one of the guests in the talk show. (Photo : www.startv.in)

Millions of Indians consider themselves to be great admirers of this show. This show is found to be very much catchy and keeps its audiences glued through the entire show. The show is very much appreciated by the people of India, because, the people can somehow and in some way, either directly or indirectly can relate themselves with the issues raised. We all are passionate about these issues.

People in India, still today become victim of those issues mentioned. But, till today not enough protests were accumulated. We had realisations earlier issues were never discussed before such strongly as Satyamev Jayate is doing, which passionately re-ignited the spark within audience.

The show has gained a huge popularity among the people because it is revealing some of the shocking facts which should come in the notice of the authority and government, and they positively believe that their story could reach to the administration through this program and measures will be taken by them against all these ill practices.

An audience expresses his view in the show.(Photo : www.startv.in)

It deals with a serious issue, and tries to act towards a possible solution. Amir might not take people to court or directly blame anyone, but he boldly showed sting operation footage of doctors involved in female foeticide on his show, and also promised to write a letter to the Chief Minister of Rajasthan asking him to transfer these cases to a fast-track court.

And he is doing the same for other important cases also. All these measures assured the people that their problem may now be dealt with importance and this belief is one of the causes of this overwhelming response to the show.

It makes us wonder if Aamir Khan is trying to bring about a small revolution in the country. The actor denied that he aimed to do that, saying he only wanted to unite people for the causes discussed on his show. But many Indians love to believe that this show will bring a kind of an awareness in the people, which in turn help the society to get rid of these issues. Indians are very optimistic about it, and may be they are right.

Sudhanya Ghosh Intern Reporter news@theasian.asia