No spar(r)ing please, we're politicians

By M. Dinesh Varma

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, APRIL 27. Glimpses of how well our political heavyweights think on their feet will be on view when a few veterans go on trial on the mini-screen for a new programme conceived by a Malayalam satellite channel.

The short series, "Janakeeya Kodathi", on the Asianet satellite channel will provide viewers their first taste of a regional variant of the highly popular "Aap ki Adalat" show.

The programme goes on air on April 29 with the spotlight on senior Congress (I) leader, Mr. K. Karunakaran.

To be put on the dock, so to say, in subsequent episodes will be the CPI(M) politburo member, Mr. V. S. Achuthanandan (May 1), BJP State president of the BJP, Mr. C. K. Padmanabhan (May 2), Mr. K. P. P. Nambiar, controversial technocrat, (April 30), SNDP general secretary, Mr. Vellappally Natesan (May 4) and Kerala Congress (Jacob) leader and former Education Minister, Mr. T. M. Jacob (May 3).

Given the format of a programme of this nature, the success is likely to be determined by a mix of ingredients ranging from brisk pace and sharp questions, to heated exchanges and witty repartee. In fact, reputations could rise or fall after the grilling.

Producers of the programme aver that the VIP who will be positioned inside the defendant's box, would be cross-examined with carefully worded questions prepared by a team of researchers.

Every effort is being taken to impart the courtroom feel. Turning the heat on the politician would be a group of witnesses in the witness box with a prominent member of the Fourth Estate, as judge, presiding over the proceedings and passing the ruling at the end. The singular difference, of course, would be that the audience in the enclosure, can join issue with the politicians.

The presentation has been conceived as a rewind on the past deeds of the VIP under focus. The personality and the witness will be afforded opportunity to engage in a brief debate so that either could come off with the last word, or should we say, laugh.

For instance, in order to corroborate an argument, they can seek the option of cross-examining the person of their choice from among the team of special witnesses with the permission of the Chair. The verdict is passed at the end of the programme on the basis of a keen evaluation by the juror.

The duration of the episodes is 30 minutes. All the six episodes scheduled for telecast between April 29 and May 4 have already been recorded.

Mr. Sreekantan Nair, of "Nammal Thammil" fame, has been cast as anchor. A set of eminent journalists have been roped in as `judges' while a group of three to five persons have been invited to ask questions from the witness box.

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Section  : Southern States
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