Archive for the ‘Visu’ Category

A warm Rose

Friday, March 7th, 2008


Ippadikku Rose second episode was about models. Rose had invited six models and then a former Miss south India. They discussed about modeling, a few tips, about sexual harassment if any, image prevailing about models, conservatism vs. models etc.

The advantage Rose has is her present gender. Being what she is, she gels easily with females. She asked some straight and provocative questions which a female will not dare to ask and which a male if asks, will not entice proper response. That is her strength. She is fearless and is not unduly worried about the outcome. She lets her to be her own self and that is it.

Two episodes have gone but it is not an arousing welcome to Rose. Neither are their any adverse remarks. The show is definitely not a sensation, not as yet. In one of the forums, some one had written that this could be hosted by anyone why Rose in particular. Rose replied that the aim is to bring Transgender to mainstream and to prove that given an opportunity they can perform like any other gender.

Rose is eager for feedbacks and looks like she is improving. But she has a long way to go. Her shows can be made better with proper introduction to the day’s agenda by using video clippings and using more such clips in the midst of the program. She should also use the stage audience and should not end the program abruptly.

The greats like Oprah, Visu, Anu, Lakshmi etc conduct their programs like it is a film. They have a definite screenplay with a starting, end, climax etc. and that is what makes their programs interesting. Visu is commendable for even after so many shows, his shows are still enticing. There is a tempo in his talk shows.

For the second episode our mark is 5.5/10.

The prize may be small but this is just a beginning. Please participatein the present forum . Thanks Regards

The Different show and the Battle of sexes

Friday, February 29th, 2008



Human species consist of two sexes- Male and female. This is the education we learn in our schools and this is what we see in our environment. They look different have different anatomy and research has proven they think different. Their response to similar stimuli is many times different due to their difference in thinking and reacting.

Gender differences stem from nurture and nature alike. It’s not only biology,
but Socialization that shapes men and women.

In the past few decades, researchers have discovered physiological variations in the brains of men and women. For example, male brains are about 10% larger than female brains. But women have more nerve cells in certain areas and have a larger corpus collusum That makes women faster at transferring data between the computational, verbal left half and the intuitive, visual right half. Result: Women are more flexible and find it easier to multitask. Men are usually left-brain oriented. That often makes then better at solving abstract equations and problems.
Females, on average, have larger deep limbic systems than males. This is why Venusians tend to be more in touch with their feelings and are better able to express them than men. The larger deep limbic system also increases a Venusian’s ability to connect and bond with others.
The downside of this is that women are more susceptible to depression, because of the larger limbic system and because they produce less serotonin than men

Females in India were more equal in our ancient times in India, But after the foreign invasion viz Mughal and British rule, they were confined to house largely due to fear of safety and thus male domination became profound. Males did most Jobs except probably agriculture.
Industrial revolution then made the early changes. Technology is gender neutral and it has empowered women. it requires finesse not brawn to operate. The era of hand-to-hand combat is increasingly taken over by computer-guided techno-weapons. Muscles the main source of strength is finding less use in a modern world.

Today we find women in all spheres of our life. They are even in army and police albeit in small numbers. In the IT industry, most of our BPO’s employ more women than men. The Indian parliament meanwhile is trying to get more women leaders by reserving 33%. In USA and in many developed nations women employees have outnumbered men already in almost all industries. But in the CEO and top management level they are still a minority and in India they are very few.

Kiran Bedi, the highly decorated ex woman police officer, said in one of her lectures that women and men should learn from each other about the positive qualities. If men have the three Ms – money, mobility and muscle, then women have three Hs – humanity, healing touch and heart.

We would all be happier if we believed that all so-called masculine and feminine characteristics such as left/ right brain thinking, intuition, physical activities, vulnerability, competitiveness, anger, grief, nurturing abilities, etc. were possible characteristics for everyone. I would agree that anyone who totally denies any of these traits is not fulfilling his/ her potential. That does not imply, however, in some hypothetical perfect society that women and men would display equal quantities or qualities of these characteristics. Instead, there is much evidence to suggest that there are inherent tendencies caused by hormones and genes that promote or inhibit these qualities. So they remain different, but that does not matter any longer for any position and for any job.

Ippadikku Rose is a reality show, which has its main agenda as to discuss about these sexes and also about the Third Gender. This is of course a delicate agenda and needs careful handling. Of course its agenda is even broader and it advertises that it is about social issues and not necessarily about these sexes. The topics mentioned are ‘Domestic violence in foreign countries’, ‘Sexual harassment in colleges’, ‘the life of models’, ‘The rise in number of divorces among celebrities’. But the symbol exhibited prominently in the show and the host clearly suggests what will be predominant in future shows.

There are many in India who are not even aware that a group called Third gender exist in their world.[ believe it or not]. Many see it as a disability of mind. The host Rose says, “Transgender in India are seen as immoral and evil,” “I will break that image by being articulate, intelligent and a bit like the girl next door.” And clearly reveals her intentions.

If there was a male host any issue on sexes will be perceived as being conducted with a male bias and similar if it was a female host. In this show they have a ‘different’ host and she is expected to combine the Three M’s and H’s to give a better balance to the issues.

There are many popular talk shows in various channels and the world richest television celebrity is a female talk show hostess, Oprah winfrey. We have our Visu, Gopinath, Lakshmi, Revathi, Mamatha chary, Charmila and Anu hassan etc. If Rose is compared with them, She would have won her cause. She need not overtake them but to be part of their brigade itself will be her greatest contribution to her race.

All the popular names written above had already a reputation before they started hosting a talk show. They just needed to built on their reputation. Rose is at disadvantage here because there is no prior media experience. Added to it is her
‘difference’. Now how she overcomes it and establishes a name for her is the curiosity element. And so far she is in the right track.

Her first show was telecast yesterday at ten PM in Vijay TV. The stage and the atmosphere were great. The audience did justice to her mission by completely being at ease with her presence and at no time where they at discomfort. She also conducted the show with no special exhibit of her being different. It is a good first step.

The music was sometimes irritating and she might have to improve her modulation. Her attempt to get both sides of the issue is definitely a very good sign and proves her caliber. She has proved what she is capable and we hope she will build on it.

The first show was about sexual harassment in colleges. And the affected sex was shown as females. It did not suggest any solution nor did it mass a judgment and it was a open discussion. Two females talked about their experiences and then a Dean of a college in the stage audience responded. She then got a couple, one a teacher and her wife who was his ex student to the stage. The issue discussed was whether it was proper for a Teacher to marry a student. The couple was mostly embraced and it was evident from their answers. The two girls surprisingly said it was Ok if they were really in love. The dean was steadfast on his stand that it was improper. Rose quickly got all their views and ended the show by telling that she will be back with a different topic.

Vijay TV had advertised that it is a show with difference and the first show was different. The Host underplayed her ‘difference’ but her conduct and style was no doubt different. In a month of Exams I am not sure whether she will bring enough TRP’s but she has exhibited her potential and the Judgment is not far away.

The prize may be small but this is just a beginning. Please participatein the present forum . Thanks Regards