Satyamev Jayate

Satyamev Jayate (English Translation: Truth Alone Prevails) is an Indian Hindi TV show to be aired on Star Network and Doordarshan (DD National). The show marks the television debut of popular Indian Bollywood actor and filmmaker Aamir Khan.

About:

Satyamev Jayate is the first show ever in the history of Indian Television to be aired simultaneously on a private channel Star Plus and a national broadcaster Doordarshan. The show is also dubbed in several languages including four Indian southern languages viz., Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam and Kannada, along with Marathi. Apart from Star Plus, the show will also have simulcast on STAR Pravah, STAR Jalsha, STAR Utsav, Asianet and STAR Vijay within the STAR Network. On the broadcast of the show, Aamir Khan commented, “This show is being launched on a large scale. I had to make complete use of this medium. This is a baby step in that direction.”

The show is scheduled to telecast on Sundays at 11 A.M. While the producers were high on showcasing it in the prime time, Khan wanted to telecast it on Sunday mornings since the slot is commonly considered as “family TV viewing” in Indian Television, after popular TV shows Mahabharata and Ramayana were aired on Sunday mornings and were highly successful. He was reported saying, “I wanted to telecast my show on Sunday morning. I want each family to watch the show and connect with it. We have watched ‘Ramayana’ and ‘Mahabarata’ and it used to come on Sunday morning. The shows created a different atmosphere.” He further added that, “I don’t understand TRPs and GRPs. I have no idea how to calculate it! I don’t care about it. It is important to reach out to the Indian audiences. If viewers want to see, they will see or else it is up to them.”

Concept:

The concept of the show was not revealed in the Indian media till the show officially went on air on 6 May 2012. However, various sources reported the show to be based on “the common man” rather than being fictional. Also, based on its content, it was mostly referred as a talk show discussing social issues like child labour, health problems and other issues affecting the country. Aamir Khan, who is known for keeping secrecy for his movies, was quoted saying, “I don`t want to talk much about how the show will be, and about its format. I want everyone to see it directly on TV.” However, commenting on the theme of the show, he said, “The show is about meeting the common man of India, connecting with India and its people.” He also added, “Through this show we understand the problem of the people, we are not here to make a change. I am no one to change anything. I don`t think I am in the position to change anything else. I feel understanding a problem and feeling it or holding one`s hand or hugging is also important. I may not have the solution, but at least I can hear and understand.”

Links

Satyamev Jayate on Apnicommunity
Satyamev Jayate on Tvbasti