The vaccine at work
ANUJ KUMAR
|
As Jasoos Vijay tracks culprits in Surajkund, creative director Devika Bhal and her crew talk about packaging the message.
|
IN THE THICK OF ACTION Jasoos Vijay Farhan Khan fighting it out with fighters in Surajkund. Photo: Rajeev Bhatt
We knew tracking a detective wouldn't be easy, but that we would find him engulfed in a silambam fight in Gopalapuram, Tamil Nadu was astonishing. Yes, our Surajkund underwent a makeover this past week for the shooting of four episodes of "Jasoos Vijay". Coconut groves, banana trees, Ganapati, the entire ambience is of South India with the architecture at the designer village of Surajkund adding more than a dash of reality to the sets.
An interactive show interspersed with social messaging capturing an HIV-positive detective agent in action, "Jasoos Vijay" is playing a third innings. Produced by BBC World Service Trust, Doordarshan and the National Aids Control Organisation and rated among the top 15 shows in India, it is now dubbed in seven regional languages. Says Devika Bahl, Creative Director of the series, "That's why we have set storylines in different states. In this story, while solving a murder mystery, Vijay comes across an HIV patient who is not being allowed to work because of the infection. We talk about the legal rights of the HIV patients."
Sans sensation
Known for television series "Bhanwar", Devika says the show is targeted at the rural and small town population. "We don't make things complicated. We don't go for breaks without explaining the entire message. For instance, Vijay starts bleeding during the fight. We won't go for a break without explaining how he takes precautions so that the infection doesn't spread. Similarly, now that Vijay is married, we emphasise condom use is a must." Devika hints that adoption as an option to bring children into the family could be incorporated in the future. Vijay is being represented as a role model. "He won't drive without a helmet. Plus, there is lots of hidden messaging on how alcoholism, women's rights, family support, personal hygiene play a role in spreading controlling the virus. Gauri's family allowed her to marry Vijay because they realised she knows how to take care of him." Devika adds they are not making things unrealistic. "We do show Vijay getting exhausted after a chase. We have introduced his friend Jeet, who takes care of the complicated action scenes."
Agrees Farhan Khan, who is playing the title role, "I agreed to play Vijay because he is not like the highly stylised detectives we come across on television." Shooting in villages, Farhan says it gives a kick, because for once you know you are shooting among the people for whom the show is meant.
Coming back to the fight, the master wants real action. "Yahan koi ma bahen ka badla lene nahin aya hai. We have kept the action simple but realistic and have tried to minimise bloodshed."
Using a digi-beta camera, sync sound and a Bollywood crew, Devika claims they are not compromising on production values. "The stock has to be durable enough to be dubbed in seven languages." Devika says she got some 250 e-mails after the first episode. The series has got up to 13 minutes of advertisements. "When you get a TAM rating higher than a saas bahu serial it is most satisfying. It proves social messaging can work if packaged well."
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Entertainment
Bangalore
Chennai and Tamil Nadu
Delhi
Hyderabad
Thiruvananthapuram
