KP Sivasankara Kurup has been essaying the role of 'Munshi' in the five minute clip named 'Munshi' that is aired soon after the news bulletins on the Asianet channel. Directed by Anil Banerjee, the clip has crossed numerous milestones, the most notable one being that it has been continuously aired for over 10 years - getting into the Guinness Records in the process!
The programme pans on a bunch of individuals, drawn from various walks of life with differing political ideologies, who opine on a contemporary topic with the 'Munshi' (like the proverbial 'speaking tree') finally giving his views sans partisanship! Tautly edited, I've liked the programme on two counts - firstly, its message is put across forcefully without fear or favour and secondly, because the protagonist is married to my 'kunjamma'/'maasi'.
A couple of days back, however, this long partnership suffered a setback. Actually, a series of events led to the faux pas, as I understand and reproduce below:-
(a) His good friend(a local Congress leader) had prevailed upon 'Munshi' to take a Congress party membership ostensibly for giving the party futher boost in the coming elections.
(b) The incident gets wide coverage in the local media.
(c) A surprised Anil Banerjee is irked that 'Munshi's' apolitical being had suffered a dent with one stroke which would consequently colour the programme politically!
(d) Sivasankara Kurup ceases to be 'Munshi'.
My take.
(a) Munshi had done it out of ignorance of the fallout. What he failed to appreciate was that since he was a public figure, he was a prisoner of circumstances and therefore, did not have the freedom to do things like the rest of us commoners.
(b) Having said that, I really can't fathom the 'boost' the Congress party would've got by 'Munshi' taking its primary membership.
(c) The channel of communication between 'Munshi' and Anil Banerjee seems to have had blocks that could have been avoided.
(d) The subsequent action by Anil Banerjee by airing the next episode with a new actor tearing Sivasankara Kurup, on a personal level, could have best been avoided. Maturity and restraint should have been exercised.
Epilogue.
A typical case of harmless action that have hidden consequences triggering off ego hassles. Sad, because art and creativity are the ultimate losers. Period!
The programme pans on a bunch of individuals, drawn from various walks of life with differing political ideologies, who opine on a contemporary topic with the 'Munshi' (like the proverbial 'speaking tree') finally giving his views sans partisanship! Tautly edited, I've liked the programme on two counts - firstly, its message is put across forcefully without fear or favour and secondly, because the protagonist is married to my 'kunjamma'/'maasi'.
A couple of days back, however, this long partnership suffered a setback. Actually, a series of events led to the faux pas, as I understand and reproduce below:-
(a) His good friend(a local Congress leader) had prevailed upon 'Munshi' to take a Congress party membership ostensibly for giving the party futher boost in the coming elections.
(b) The incident gets wide coverage in the local media.
(c) A surprised Anil Banerjee is irked that 'Munshi's' apolitical being had suffered a dent with one stroke which would consequently colour the programme politically!
(d) Sivasankara Kurup ceases to be 'Munshi'.
My take.
(a) Munshi had done it out of ignorance of the fallout. What he failed to appreciate was that since he was a public figure, he was a prisoner of circumstances and therefore, did not have the freedom to do things like the rest of us commoners.
(b) Having said that, I really can't fathom the 'boost' the Congress party would've got by 'Munshi' taking its primary membership.
(c) The channel of communication between 'Munshi' and Anil Banerjee seems to have had blocks that could have been avoided.
(d) The subsequent action by Anil Banerjee by airing the next episode with a new actor tearing Sivasankara Kurup, on a personal level, could have best been avoided. Maturity and restraint should have been exercised.
Epilogue.
A typical case of harmless action that have hidden consequences triggering off ego hassles. Sad, because art and creativity are the ultimate losers. Period!
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