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28 March 2024

India's 'Mr Oprah' Aamir tackles female foeticide on TV

Indian Bollywood actor Aamir Khan poses during a promotional event for the song "Satyamev Jayate Satyamev Jayate" for his reality television show in Mumbai on April 13, 2012. (AFP)

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By Bindu Suresh Rai

The sensitive, yet a harsh reality of female foeticide in India is one of the many issues that Aamir Khan tackles on his TV debut, “Satyamev Jayate” (Truth Alone Prevails), which debuts tonight across the UAE on Star Plus.

The show, which has already aired in India earlier this morning, has garnered good reviews, sparking many to take to social media feeds and forward BlackBerry messages in an impromptu word of mouth campaign.

One such message generated in Dubai simply read: “Please inform your family to record Aamir Khan’s first TV show, ‘Satyamev Jayate’ on Star Plus if you are out.”

Speaking to Emirates 24|7, Dubai-resident Dinesh Khiara, who watched the show already, said: “I saw the first half and have to say, Aamir’s show will really draw in an audience.

“He is tackling issues that the common man faces and it is clear that a lot of research has gone into the subjects that will be discussed, starting with the episode on female foeticide in India.”

Jyothi Kamath, a Sharjah-based resident said: “I will be glued to the TV tonight for sure. When it’s Aamir Khan, we expect sensibility and not some moronic actor screaming on the telly to make a quick buck in the name of a reality show.”

“This show is a journey”

Khan has this past month, been travelling on road shows and appearing on TV soaps to generate publicity for his debut on the idiot box.

While people were aware from the promos that “Satyamev Jayate” is about the common man in India, the actually subject matter of the 13-episode show has been a closely guarded secret.

In a statement, Khan said: “Over the last few years I have often been approached with various television shows. But none of those that were offered to me, really excited me. I work only if I’m excited about it.”

He added: “What excites me about television is its power and reach, its enormous potential to connect with people. And this is what I want to use. I want it to be an enriching experience, for me and for my audience.”

One of India’s highest paid film stars; he added that this is not just a show for him, but “a journey”.

Each episode will be of one-and-half hour duration and will be on repeat telecast on Star Plus at 10.30am on Fridays across the UAE.

In India, it will be the first show in the history of television that would, on a weekly basis, be shown across nine channels, in various languages such as Bengali, Marathi, Malayalam and Tamil.

The show will be simulcast in eight languages across all key channels of the Star network, in addition, ETV Telugu and Doordarshan.

However, it will not be broadcast in the Indian state of Karnataka as the state has imposed the ban due to its policy to disallow all dubbed serials or movies in the state.

Music for the soul

The title track of the show features video footage of Khan travelling across India and meeting people from various sections of the society. The track has generated quite a buzz.

Khan and music director Ram Sampath of Delhi Belly fame have created 16 songs roughly to go with each of the episodes.

The actor will also launch a music album once the show comes to an end.