MUMBAI: It was in 2012 when TV audiences woke up to Sunday morning slot once again. Star Plus with Satyamev Jayate at 11 am, tried to bring about a change in our society by bringing the ills gripping our society to the forefront.
The promos of the upcoming season have already gone live and each tells a story of a person who after watching a heart-wrenching episode has gone out to make a change in whatever manner he/she could. One of the promo tells a story of Nazia, who found a sexually-abused girl and went on to help her through Childline – a NGO working for kids. “Nazia is like one of us but through her one action she proved that it is we who can bring about a change,” says the host of the show Aamir Khan while highlighting that this time the focus on promos was not him but on heroes who made a difference. “It is all about possibilities.”
He highlights that the research team never went out to hunt for people like Nazia but while doing their study they met or were told about people who after watching SMJ went out of their way to help others.
In its third installment now, the show, which will go live on 21 September and consists of six episodes, will see a few new elements. The biggest change will be letting the common man talk to Khan. After the one and a half hour show, people can talk ‘live’ to Khan through social media – Facebook and Twitter -, phone or the show’s official website to share their issues on the topic discussed earlier.
“SMJ is about people and we want people to tell their views and issues so that together as a society we can bring about a change,” says Khan who will be travelling across various cities to connect with the people.
He believes that the show has changed him a lot. “I have become more patient and less judgmental,” he says while recalling that years ago when Star India CEO Uday Shankar had approached him for a game show he had made a correct decision by denying that and suggesting a show on social issues.
This time around, for the first time, other actors too will be seen on the show. “It is not for publicity. But only the actors who have done something for a particular issue or feel for it will be on the talk show,” clarifies Khan.
Believing that the change needs to be brought about from the grassroot level to revolutionise people’s mindset, Khan wants people, administrations and governments to make a note of the things. Stating the example of how after the female foeticide episode was aired, the sex ratio between girls and boys has risen, Khan says, “Earlier there were 890 girls per 1000 boys, but today it is 940 which is remarkable. A small step can make a huge difference.”
On a personal level, Khan wants four basic fundamental benefits given to each and every citizen of the country, namely, public health services, education, a quick and fair justice system and security through a strict law and order.
