Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Real-time crime on the box

Crime has suddenly become the new flavour of the season for Malayalam television channels. While crime-related serials and vampire shows were a rage some time ago, it is only recently that television channels have begun exploring the `immense' potential of real-time crime.

Why make up stories when some of the real crime instances have all the elements to entertain viewers— blood, gore, suspense, pathos and passion? Not just the police, the relatives of those involved in a particular crime and the local people to get to give their sound bytes on television. Many prominent Malayalam channels have devoted the 10 p.m. slot for showing charred or blood-splattered bodies. However, the `gory content' of some channels came in for sharp criticism from the Centre on Monday. Information and Broadcasting Minister Jaipal Reddy announced on Monday that notice has been served on 14 channels for violating the programming code. He, however, did not name the channels.

C. Maya

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