'Jasoos Vijay' to convey hard-hitting facts of HIV/AIDS

Televisionpoint.com Team
The Award winning detective series 'Jasoos Vijay' returns to Indian television screens for a year long run on September 4, 2005, promises to combine thrilling story lines, dramatic action sequences – and hard-hitting messaging about HIV/AIDS. The new series has a prime weekly slot on Doordarshan of 8.30 pm on Sunday evenings. Farhaan Khan stars as the hero, Jasoos Vijay, while internationally renowned actor Om Puri continues to host the programme's unique interactive segments.

"'Jasoos Vijay' is a wonderful show that entertains the audience as well as spells out a very important message, The thriller format is perfect for the purpose – and the interactive element creates interest among the viewers as well as giving them the opportunity to participate in the show.", declared actor Om Puri, speaking at the launch of the new series.

'Jasoos Vijay' is the key part of a pioneering campaign to use TV entertainment to spread awareness about HIV/AIDS. The programme is made by the BBC World Service Trust, with its partners the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) and Doordarshan. The mass media project is funded by the British government's Department for International Development (DFID).

"'Jasoos Vijay' has played a vital role in getting the message across to the people of this country about HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention, NACO's partnership with Doordarshan and the BBC World Service Trust has been a landmark project in the use of the mass media to communicate social messaging." commented the Director General of NACO, Dr S.Y. Quraishi.

Speaking at the launch, Andrew Whitehead, India Director of the BBC World Service Trust added, "We are delighted to be able to support the crucial work of NACO. The mass media has a vital role to play in promoting awareness about HIV/AIDS."

MR K.S Sarma CEO Prasaar Bharati says "As equal partners in the media campaign, Prasar Bharati is happy to continue its commitment for social change. This project is a wonderful example of how important it is to tackle HIV/AIDS internationally on a united front. With the access to the biggest audience in India – maybe even the world – that Doordarshan can provide, we are working together for maximum effect."

"Doordarshan has risen to the challenge presented by this campaign, We have shown our commitment to eradicating HIV/AIDS by pledging prime timings on our national network for the programmes and are working together with BBC World Service Trust and NACO to create social change.", says, MR Navin Kumar, Director General of Doordarshan.

'Jasoos Vijay' is aimed particularly at those viewers who rely on Doordarshan for their TV entertainment. The central character is himself portrayed as HIV positive, allowing the programme to address issues of the care and treatment of those living with the virus, and tackling stigma and discrimination, as well as awareness and prevention. This messaging is extensively tested and researched before broadcast.

"The challenge in making the series comes from having to knit together seamlessly health messaging with a detective plot and ensure it remains a thrilling programme, We film entirely on location in actual rural and small town settings. The overwhelming viewer response makes it all worthwhile – because we are telling good stories and saving a lot of lives." commented 'Jasoos Vijay's Creative Director, Devika Bahl.

The series is made in Hindi, and the new episodes will be dubbed into seven other languages: Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Bengali, Oriya, Gujarati and Assamese. The series has attracted international attention, and has proved a model for similar projects using TV entertainment to help arrest the spread of HIV/AIDS in other parts of the world.