Menace of Soap Operas

  God! Give us this day our daily TV serial! Is the new prayer on the lips of today’s TV addicts. The problem has acquired such proportion that it has ruined the social life of the average urbanite. It is not surprising if we are not aware who our neighbors are though they have been living next to us for ages. If an acquaintance mistakenly knocks at the door when our favorite soap opera is in progress he better be prepared to retreat from the entrance itself. The most despised lot is the electricity board staff in the event of a power cut midway of a soap opera. I feel appalled at the continuous tirade of the choicest abuses showered upon the staff on duty by family member after family member. Fortunately, the outburst is confined to the four walls of the dwelling unit. Sharing a quiet evening over a cup of tea and a plate of refreshments has become wishful thinking. Inadvertently, if you happen to ask your dear one to bring some refreshments from the kitchen be prepared to encounter the coldest look that is bound to freeze  you midway of your request.

            The height of this addiction can be judged from this interesting incidence I came to know the other day. A person was watching his favorite soap opera which he realized that his house was being ransacked by a thief. Instead of raising a hue and cry he continued to watch the programme till the end without tension and thereafter the thief. How ! Because it happened to be the favorite soap opera of the thief as well and he could not afford to miss it at any cost.

            Now about the context of the soap operas, the lesser said the better. Intrigues, family members scheming against other family members, advertisement of new superstitions, deceased characters springing back to life like the slain heads of Ravana are common features of most soap operas on the popular channels. You do not remember their beginning and there is no hope of their coming to an end soon. Midway the characters have changed umpteen times. Perhaps the Director and Script Writer have also changed. As for the storyeline there is none, courtesy the TV addicts the Promoters are able to secure enough sponsorship to live happily ever after.