Opinion Yuvraj Singh: When to look away

No sooner was Yuvraj Singh diagnosed with what was first thought to be a non-cancerous tumour,last year,that it was emblazoned on TV headlines like his man-of-the-series World Cup awards. On Sunday,came news of his being in the US for treatment of what had now been confirmed as cancer,and since then,some news channels haven’t paused for even a commercial break to give us a cell-by-cell commentary on him. He is now the Emperor of all Maladies.

On Aaj Tak,Zee News,India TV,we have seen his insides — heart,lungs,tumour ¿ we have heard his father Yograj Singh lament the delay in treatment,heard his physiotherapist play oncologist and predict Yuvraj’s speedy recovery,and countless other doctors and cricketers on his future.

If Sonia Gandhi is entitled to her privacy,why not Yuvraj Singh? Is nothing sacrosanct,not even his insides? Wonder if he likes the idea of his illness,his life,being the stuff of the evening news — an accompaniment to dinner? Perhaps he does. His condition is now a TV commercial: the latest Sun Life Insurance TV ad has Yuvraj refer to his illness and the vagaries of life — why,he’s the perfect ambassador for life/health insurance. Also,the media’s obsession with his condition may spread more awareness about the disease,its prevention and treatment. So perhaps,the media is right to play the Interpreter of Maladies.

There’s a new romance on air,this time with one of television’s most popular and winsome stars. Mona Singh hasn’t acted in a TV serial since Jaissi Jaisi Koi Nahin ended in 2006 — enough time for viewers to separate her from the role that had made her a household favourite. She’s occupied her free time playing reality show host,most recently in Star Ya Rockstar. Now Kya Hua Tera Vaada (Sony) has brought her back to TV fiction as one half of a happily married couple with two young children. This is Ekta Kapoor’s latest effort to change television entertainment through love after marriage in Bade Acche Lagte Hain and Parichay. Mona Singh is still growing into this new role. She smiles,broadly and often,something she’s as well known for as Madhuri Dixit; she has a naturalness to her that is engaging. Her husband,played by Pawan Shankar,is a likable guy and they make a fine couple who are trying to lead a decent life. He works,she works at looking after kids and home — in between the problems of both,they try to steal a little marital privacy,revive the romance of their relationship. But it’s not quite there between them,as though they’re missing a beat — there’s a nanosecond delay between her words or actions and his reactions. The chemistry is just missing a catalyst.

Kuch Toh Log Kehenge (Sony) has got it right between the middle-aged Dr Ashutosh and the young Dr Nidhi. This love affair between two people,years apart,is coming along very nicely as she takes all the wrong steps and ends up stamping on all his ageing corns. Mohnish Behl and Kritika Kamra have managed to capture the differences between them and the attraction,nevertheless. He has these repressed tight lips as though he would explode if he didn’t keep them closed. She is passionate and bubbly,a perfect foil. And the fact that viewers appreciate and accept the relationship is another big step for television. Lastly,DD National telecast the film Firaaq on the weekend. The film follows the lives of people involved and affected by the Gujarat riots. The DD synopsis began,“A campaign is launched in 2002…” Hello,why so squeamish about communal riots?

shailaja.bajpai@expressindia.com