TV THOUGHTS: The amazing public response to Aaj TV issue; Talat Husain's long journey; keep watching Ali Saleem

On Tuesday morning (April 24) this newspaper carried on its front page the lead story which read that the "Aaj TV warned over reporting on the CJ case and that political parties, journalist bodies and civil society had condemned the Pemra notice".
With it was a four-column spread photograph from Islamabad which showed journalists fraternity carrying banners in front of the Parliament House against the government notice to Aaj TV channel here on Monday.
And a Reuters story, datelined Islamabad read: "Pakistan's leading television channel Aaj TV was warned on Monday that it could be taken off the air unless it explained its reporting on a judicial crisis created by the suspension of the country's top judge."
Reuters further said that "Aaj Television described the show cause notice served on it by Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) as an 'assault on the press'.
I was not entirely shocked to read this story. It has been a long journey for me too, in the media world, and given the kind of ambience and paradigm that we have, I have come to realise the costs of freedom of expression will always have to be paid. To that extent, I retain my cynicism, my hesitation to applaud when assorted cheer leaders are at work. There is always a bandwagon on the wheels, if you can perceive it.
The April 24 front-page story said "the notice said that Aaj - which means 'Today' had violated an order of the Supreme Judicial Council, which is hearing a case against suspended Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry by telecasting news, talk shows and other programmes on the subjudice case."
"The notice, signed by a serving senior police officer inducted into the Pemra said that the media watchdog (Pemra) could cancel the channel's short-term uplinking license if it failed to respond within three days", said Reuters.
It further said that "Talat Hussain, Aaj Television director news, and current affairs, accused the government of pressurising the channel 'to take the chief justice case off the air completely.' He went on to say that "Everything is a façade in this country. Democracy is a façade. Judicial independence is a façade. And today we discovered that press freedom is a façade".
The Pemra spokesman Mohammad Saleem said that the action taken was legal. And added, "It has nothing to do with the freedom of expression. We did what regulatory bodies all over the world have been doing."
That day and ever since then, the Pemra action has been criticised and condemned all over the country. The Pakistan Broadcasters Association has termed the action as unjustified. And the Pindi district Bar Association has offered free legal services in case the Aaj TV wanted to challenge the show cause notice in a court of law. There has been an amazing and impressive spontaneous all round response to the show cause to the Aaj TV channel, and viewers said that they were reminded of the other occasions when print and electronic media have come under official pressure.
The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists has demanded a Parliamentary probe into the Pemra's "muscle tactics" and in a statement said that "in the last one year the private TV channels came under tremendous pressure. Sindh TV, ARY, Geo and KTN have faced these pressures and now Aaj TV has come under attack. And the Media Commission has termed the notice to Aaj as a crude attempt to muzzle the media.
I write this column on Wednesday night with the news that the Sindh High Court has suspended the show cause notice and issued notice to the respondents. The case has been fixed for hearing on 16th May 2007.
I watched Aaj TV on Monday night - Talat Hussain live in particular. The feedback from viewers was that they wanted more coverage of the judicial crisis and even on Wednesday that was the kind of response that came from vocally supportive viewers. Talat Hussain has once again demonstrated his professional skills in this situation also.
But the viewers have also reflected a very strong interest and commitment to serious journalism, as well as a desire to keep themselves informed. And with the manner in which Aaj TV has stood up in the matter reflects society's latent desire not to rest with an all round status quo that we have cherished. There may be no street protests, but there is an awareness that is perceptible in, for instance the spontaneous phone calls from average viewers who have stood up to be counted.
People, from all walks of life - and opinion makers and leaders have expressed themselves - indicating a desire to know more about the judicial crisis - with very obviously live coverage being at a high premium. That is what Television is about, and as technology facilitates, live coverage, across the globe, news as it happens is what news will be about. It is easy to understand that officialdom across the world will be uncomfortable at this prospect. But how can the wall clock of history, and the times of change be reined in, is what on wonders. Rusty mindsets will stand undone, says a voice from within.
Asad Amanat Ali Khan's death: Asad Amanat Ali Khan passed away recently in London. An extended interview of his, which was recorded by Hum TV in the 'Apney Andaz Sey', was telecast on Sunday morning, and I wonder whether it was a repeat telecast. The interviewer was Naeem Bokhari.
It was an absorbing interview, made still more engaging because the viewer was conscious that the singer had died. And that his father the late Amanat Ali Khan had also died, rather young (at the age of 45 ). In a conversation that was very ranging, Asad Amanat spoke of death as well. He said that when his father died at 45 he (Asad) was very conscious of this fact when he himself turned 45. At this point Naeem Bokhari said light-heartedly to Asad that he was still too young to be thinking on those lines.
I would like to believe that all those who must have seen this interview would be aware that he has passed away - and therefore, this conversation assumed a deeper significance. Even lasting value.
Asad Amanat came through as a very clear headed, and cheerful person, who was willing to express himself without inhibitions and customary reservations. Whether he spoke on the subject of classical music and its status in Pakistan, or whether he spoke of his family and his personal life or he spoke of politics, which he avoided all his life, he was relaxed and easy going.
Having watched the interview (and by chance as a result of channel surfing on a lazy Sunday morning) thought that crossed my mind was that interestingly there was no mention of Asad's health at all. No indication of any health problems that he was having - or perhaps may have been having I wonder when the interview took place - how many days or weeks before he passed away in London. I have said this before that interviews such as this one need to be marketed as a product by various TV channels.
Talat Hussain's successful career: It was apparently a Sunday when I ended up watching some excellent interviews on a single channel, Hum TV. This one that I am referring to was a conversation with the noted Talat Hussain. He has been on the scene for the last forty years plus. I remember his crisp voice in the Information Ministry documentary called "Pakistan Ka Tasweeri Khabarnama, Talat Hussain Ki Zubani" that was screened in cinema houses before a regular movie was shown. Those were days when at the end of the movie cinegoers were asked to stand up in respect of the national anthem (and the Flag) which was played after a movie came to an end. Then with the passage of time the national anthem was played at the start of the movie.
Anyway, the subject here is that the Talat Hussain's interview, which yet another interview of his on the TV - not to mention the interviews that we have seen in print. I have followed his career for almost four decades and to talk of him is to become nostalgic - in a sense. But I do wonder about the viewers - and the audiences of today who are being cultured on an entirely new set of values. Would they understand Talat Hussain?
Talat Hussain has journeyed long and well. It has been a successful career. But it was typical of Talat Hussain to say that he was not at all satisfied with the work that he had done all his life. He said that to say that he was satisfied with his creative and artistic pursuits then he wouldn't be able to achieve greater heights.
The young lady interviewing him was someone I didn't recognise, unfortunately; but she seemed overawed by Talat Hussain's strong personality and towering status. Perhaps Talat is one of those artistes who don't need an interviewer. He can steer an interview, all on his own.
It was, for his fans, interesting to hear him talk of how he began his career, and how his mother began her career with Radio Pakistan. And the one reason why she did this was because of economic problems - but he emphasised that she became a Radio artiste after seeking permission from her husband (Talat's father).
The real Ali Saleem: It was exciting to see Ali Saleem being interviewed by Maani on a Hum TV interview on Sunday afternoon in the programme called 'Casual'. Interesting name and the crank phone calls, part of this interview is a special attraction - a novelty that perhaps no other programme has. This crank call brought to the fore the point that there are such people in this society, who know neither Ali Saleem nor Begum Nawazish and no Maani either.
And after the man who got the crank call said that he didn't know these three people on TV, he put the phone down. He had no time to play guessing games, I guess recollect that in an earlier episode of this 'Casual' programme the guest was actress Atiqa Odho and she also got a similar surprise when the crank call recipient turned around to say that he didn't know who she was! I suppose this reflects the point about there being so many channels that one does know all the names and faces that there are on the small screen. I also wouldn't know so many obvious important television people - and find myself rather pleasantly surprised when I switch channels.
Which makes it pertinent to mention that with a changed cable TV operator I have far more channels than what I can handle, and am struggling to keep pace with the change, and cope with the awesome challenge.
I have noticed that Ali Saleem, has been doing some interviews, of late, and I recall one of them was recently shown on TV One. His interviews have an off beat appeal, - for there is the Begum Nawazish Ali aspect of his life now, which without argument, is something that no one else on TV has to offer at this point in time.
And the easy paced, candid manner in which Ali Saleem reveals facts from his life, only lend a certain mystery to his young personality and Amazing charm he has - which only enhances once he becomes Begum Nawazish Ali. And even when he flirts as Begum Nawazish Ali, there is an implicit message of that line from the poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz that "aur bhi gham hain zamaney mein mohabbat key sewa". One may disagree with him politically, but there is that political content in his conversation. And I like it. It reflects the point that the Begum knows the reality of life outside the drawing room.
But of late it seems that Begum Nawazish is also revealing the reality of Ali Saleem, and in that exciting process sharing with viewers basic facts of the latter's life. Of how, Ali, interacts with his brother, his family, of how laid back he is in real life, of how easily, and spontaneously he transforms himself into this sari - clad almost - voluptuous, generously inviting Begum - but who knows how to be selective in the process! Even in this particular interview that Maani (himself a primarily serious but apparently comical character) there was the question of when Ali Saleem shaves.
He does this when it is time to become Begum Nawazish, and record the drawing room encounter! It is still all happening in the drawing room! But apparently Ali Saleem has plans for enlarging his professional canvass.
He is looking at cinema options, and mentioned some specific assignments (one offer from the film writer-director Syed Noor, if I recollect) that he has in mind. But his strongest and most creative achievement is this Begum and it would be very interesting to see how he can improve on this one.