What does entertainment mean ?

When I was a child, the source of entertainment for me was the company of my playmates. With the passage of time books replaced the playmates.But to-day when I go to collect a statistics most of the people irrespective of their age and status say that their source of entertainment has now been either the cable/satellite channels or the internet. A few decades ago films which was the only source of entertainment has now been pushed to the backseat.

If as a sensible man we go to dissect the matter, we must try to find after all what does entertainment mean for these people? Entertainment does not necessarily mean making people laugh by any way. It was a practice to picturise popular novels, stories etc as serials for channels. When Doordarshan was the only channel we had watched some very memorable serials which are still remembered by the viewers, where as viewers very soon forget the serial once it is off the air. It also so happens that some serials are withdrawn because of poor TRP.

If we review the present day serials most of the stories have the same story line and the characters are totally unrealistic. It is also a fact that the producers show a disclaimer that the their presentation is a work of fiction, hence we must not hope any logic or rationality in the presentation.The most important point behind this situation is this that most of the people involved now in the entertainment media lack creativity, talent and above all professionalism. That is why most of the channels show either films or film based programmes. Another easy way to plan a programme is to plan a reality show, which has nothing to do with reality. Talk show have become so monotonous that viewers would like to see the participants not talking at all. I still remember the programme PHOOL KHILE HAIN GULSHAN GULSHAN, the first talk show hosted by Tabassum which has still maintained its freshness and charm even after so many decades.

So dear producers and directors if you lack ideas it is better that you should spend your money on the development of the country rather than ruining the rich culture and tradition of the country.Please remember misuse of money is a great insult to MAHALAKSHMI, the Godess of wealth and making of useless serials is a great insult to SARASWATI, the Godess of Vidya & Art.