DD Kendra's Kunwar Gurnam Singh Advocate expects more

Televisionpoint.com Correspondent
Courtroom drama, and the drama within its travails. Indeed, an ideal fodder for teleserial. With its twist and turns, it's just the stuff soaps ought to be or can be made of, but as Chandigarh based theatre person and filmmaker G S Chani whose serial Kunwar Gurnam Singh Advocate, an in house DD Kendra, Jalandhar production goes on air (to be telecast on Jalandhar DD, May 15 on, 6.30 pm), the man at the helm of affairs says "our serial is not dramatic 'dramatic', at least not television drama as we understand and represent it".

So as it shall bring alive the protagonist - self-righteous Gurnam Singh's (a retired judge practising law) court room triumphs, there are no exaggerated personas or stylised characters a la the carrot wielding Karamchand in tow. Veteran actor Parvesh Sethi who plays the lead, only too happy with getting "hero's role at my age" adds: "Working with Chani, the biggest challenge is to forget acting. For he expects us 'not to act' and be as natural as can be". Insists Chani: "the USP of our serial is its live realism".

Indeed, no mean feat in times when television is inundated with synthetic inane soaps that neither convey nor inspire. Or as Chani rues: "alas, today's soaps with an air of negativity enveloping the theme and the forever-scheming characters are out to numb your senses, subvert your sensibilities." He also asserts that the censorship of private channels what with a 20-something executive invariably tapping your shoulder - 'make your heroine wear backless choli' - is degrading, far worse than any stricture a government organisation can ever impose.

The real thrill of working with DD he feels is that its di rectors like Govardhan Shar ma insist on quality content and provide complete support. But we wonder whether Chani, an NSD alumnus, finds any difference between creating plays and serials? He answers: "yes, making TV serials is far more challenging, for, technology betrays you. Working with multiple cameras in this case you have to carry so many people along that it is easier said than done". But as in theatre, here too he is out to demystify… the working of courts and untangle legal tangles.

But will the serial empower common man, make him learn and grasp finer nuances of law? D N Goswamy the , writer of the 25-episode serial with each story running into five episodes replies:

"in cinema you often see convoluted false presentation of court cases as well as how the court functions. Our serial may not be inspired from real life but is more than authentic which shall clear many anomalies". But at the end of the day as S S Rehman, director, DD Jalandhar says, "it's essentially a social serial and not meant to probe into legal wrangles minutely "Slice of real life", is how ." Harleen who essays the part of Gurnam's wife describes it. A slice of legal life… yes, as it affects the common man and the society around. So be ready for some fine real viewing. Even if your are an urbanite, Chani promises it shall appeal to all, provided you are open to watching more than a sequence of repetitive reaction shots which is what today's average soaps have become.