It is sad to see Television dismantling cultures this way, writes Asima Rashid Parray.

Our self-proclaimed film critics, nowadays, seem to be much busy in writing reviews sitting back in their cosy drawing-rooms, in a style quite peculiar. They seem to have forgotten that there is much to talk about, in our own surroundings. Reviewing and spawning much ado about films coming from an altogether alien culture is quite disheartening. Considering the fact that we as a distinct identity do not and cannot identify with the reality of an alien culture. Still we love to proclaim ourselves as critics and cause a hue and cry about things we least identify with.
Today, local media channels, it seems have taken a pledge of deteriorating our centuries old culture and the very people who are always on a hunt of new Bollywood releases quite strangely are unmoved by what our own media is showing us. Switch on to a local TV channel and a feeling of disgust grips you. The situation becomes even worse when an elder in the same room is seen fumbling for his/her glasses in order to have a clear view of the idiot-box. One is left with no alternative but to switch the TV off. What is being displayed on the screen is a group of young girls – their head gears tied to their waists, loosened hair (dusty off course), loads of make-up (with no aesthetic sense at all) dancing in a style quite “innovative”- a chorus of “dancers” led by a “heroine” who has recently been ditched in love but whose make-up has remained untouched by the tears of pain and agony. Now consider the songs that are being played in the background- either an imitation of a Bollywood number or one sees girls dancing to the tunes of the Sufi or mystic songs which is all the more painful. Imagine a dead poet who has expressed his love for God seeing his verses getting desecrated in such a manner...Disgusting!!
These pictures scare away a person and what adds to the trauma are the technicalities- the zoom-ins and zoom-outs add to the already existing horror. The dance is quite unique in itself-an intermingling of Kashmiri folk with steps from Bharatnatyam, Kathak , Kuchipudi and at times one is enough fortunate to have a glimpse of western too. One wonders from where the choreography comes.
It is unbelievable that an issue which should have shaken the whole society has never tickled the conscience of our people especially the critic fraternity who tend to be oblivious of this cultural decadence and the fatal consequences it can have.
Instead of standing against this kind of cultural onslaught, more and more people are following the band-wagon. Every day one comes across new videos with new “dancers” in newer and “refined” styles. This is an issue demanding a wholesome criticism lest we may realise one day that in the fight for our distinct identity owing to our distinct culture, we have actually lost the culture itself.

(Feedback at parrayasima@yahoo.com)

Lastupdate on : Fri, 19 Feb 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 19 Feb 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 20 Feb 2010 00:00:00 IST