इंटरव्यू अशोक Jailkhani

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Interview with Ashok Jailkhani, Senior DDG Doordarshan India By, Maharaj Shah

Q.1: You started your career long back in Doordarshan and have come a long way from the position of a commanding on floor of shoots to commanding the administrative and programming reins of Doordarshan, how do you view your journey.

Ans: I took up the job in Doordarshan when I had yet to complete my graduation. However, at that point of time, I was already involved in active theatre and had been performing on stage and participating in Radio plays. Theatre and films was strong passion with me right from my early years. In fact, I was coaxed into taking up job in Television as the local Station of Srinagar was being set up on priority and was just the second station in the country after Delhi and to sustain programming, local talent was a must. Though I was very young not even completed 18 years, my well wishers and seniors thought that taking up the job in TV shall go well with my aptitude and dreams. Since films seemed to be too far away in our State, so I took it up as a second best option.

Q.2: You were very active stage Actor/Director in a very young age comprehending the scripts of most famous stage writers and using your own innovative methods to communicate masterpiece Indian literary plays in Kashmir Valley before a Non-Hindi audience, how would you do that all.

Ans: In those days the theatre in the Valley was stereo-type in terms of content and presentation which was not inspiring enough for me. Initially I chose modern contemporary plays written in the country. They had themes of universal appeal. Fortunately all of the plays which I staged in Hindi language were well received by the audience. The presentation and treatment of these productions was totally different and hitherto unknown to Kashmiri stage. I did lot of experimentation in lighting, sets, etc. The presentation of Drama in a continuous flow of scenes with appropriate light, sound and action would help to create the desired communicative effect. The soul of a script would be revealed in a very rational sequential flow and actor’s talent would carry the audience with. It would be tough hard work of months put together for staging a successful show. This involved working out minutest details of set, light, Actor’s exercise of pronunciation and modulation. Perfect understanding of the elements of theme and character, all those plays like “Evam-Inderjeet” , “Kisi Ek Phool Ka Nam Lo”, “Panchi Aise Aatha Hai”, “GIDH” “Santola”, etc. not only bagged, best production and acting awards, but also registered in a big way with the audiences.

Q.3: You were awarded many time best Director and best Play awards by the state cultural Academy how do you view to be awarded at such tender stage all the big awards and how would you feel.

Ans: I felt very great. Those moments are still fresh with me. I had the privilege of receiving “Best Directors / Actors Award” consecutively for 3 years and the same was bestowed to me by the then two Chief Ministers of the State. Though in retrospect, I realize that I had an excellent group of talented people with me whose cooperation and dedication made this possible. At that point of time, these awards were very special for my parents also because they realized that I can make a mark in this my chosen field.


Q.4: Coming back to your Job in Television, did it put some speed breakers on your theatre activity.

Ans: Not much but yes, I would have now to manage a tight time schedule. Attending all office work and then after evenings we would gather in one building called Dar Building and conduct our all theatre activities there. There were other theatre activists around working as well and most of the times they would be our competitors in the annual competition of the Academy.

Q.5: You were promoted to the position of Producer and given to produce Drama and in the very first production you got instant success by producing and directing a hilarious comedy inspired from English Drama.

Ans; I, during my stint as drama producer which lasted for about 10 years, must have produced around 400 plays including serials, etc. As far as comedy is concerned, play “Dastar” written by Hari Krishan Kaul was a big Hit. People were crazy about this play and it was repeated over the channel umpteen times on the request of viewers. Out of the 104 episodes of the popular serial titled “Shabrang”, 65 episodes were produced by me which are still remembered. Similarly, Serials titled “Harud”, English telefilm “The Trespassers” based on Shri Aktar Mohiddin ‘s short story were “Trend Setters”. Some of the plays also with strong social themes in which I also played the main role like “Begur-Bana” and “Ye Zahar-Kus-Chaya” by Shri Somnath Sandhu became a rage. Other most popular programme was “Aap Aur Hum” this programme gave me on screen recognition. I would answer audience mail. I had tremendous response from audience, especially female fans, even I used to receive mail across the border from POK and one female fan wrote that she would skip famous Neelam Ghar programme of PTV for my programme.

Q.6: Over the years what was TV then and what is it now.

Ans. A sea change has happened which any one can observe. It has come in all fields, from technical up gradation to shooting techniques, perspective and design packaging and presentation. Every thing has changed.

Q.7; But Doordarshan seems to have cosmetically adapted these changes and there seems to be no change in approach and thinking of the Doordarshan policy.

Ans. We can not be compared with private channels. We are Public Broadcasters and have a social mandate. Our priorities are different. We may sound a bit dull at times but you have to realize that Doordarshan has been rendering a great service to the nation by telecasting meaningful programmes on education, agriculture, social issues and Doordarshan has played a great role for the “Green Revolution” in the country and such campaigns like Adult Education, etc.

Q.8: But at least for heavens sake why does not Doordarshan bring itself any way close to the viewer’s expectations.

Ans. And what do you sum up are those expectations? Look, we have given all viewers Choice. Doordarshan has generic channels. We have separate channels for different taste of viewers.


Q.9: But we see very little difference in these generic channels. Your channels only seem to be using same programmes across the channels. You have almost wiped out commissioning ace and best producers and Directors and lay much stress on sponsored programmes.

Ans. I do not agree. For instance, DD-I, DD (News), DD (Spots), DD (Urdu) are totally and distinctly different channels. Sometimes some over-lapping may seem to be happening between some channels like DD-I and DD-Bharati, primarily because of common language used.

We have not stopped commissioning of programmes. Like for our flagship channel i.e. DD-I all our prime-time and mid-prime time is devoted to the programmes produced by outside producers for DD under Self Finance Commissioning scheme. Experienced and established Directors like Gulzar, Shyam Benegal, Amol Palekar, Girish Karnad, Adoor Golalakrishnan, Muzzafar Ali and many more have been assigned projects which have been telecast, in fact, Sponsored programmes are under “phase-out” process. On our main channel i.e. DD-I, the Sponsored programmes are very few and that too are being carried mostly in non-prime time. We shall be gradually introducing SFC Scheme in our Regional channels also. In fact, DD-Sahyadiri has already started this scheme.

All said and done, DD is constantly in the process of improving both in terms of technology, content, and overall packaging, In fact, a significant and influential segments of our society has recognized the role of Doordarshan as a responsible Broadcaster, particularly in moments of crisis, the latest example being the Mumbai blast.

Q You are a writer of several Books on theatre and Television what really inspires you for writing books after such a busy schedule.

Ans; If you talk about time one can have always sufficient time for writing if one is really inclined to do it, that you too know better how I managed my time with you while writing the book in Hindi on The techniques of television programme making. But the book on theatre which I wrote long back in Kashmiri language is first of its kind so far written in this language by any Kashmiri writer. It contains everything about regional, local, national and world theatre. It is elaborate and comprehensive book on the work of Theatre.

Q I feel even hours of talking together with you on the subject will mean very little considering the experience you can reveal, you are really a great hub of knowledge, experience, information and inspiration for the young generation of this field, I thank you for giving time and talking to me.

Contributed By: Maharaj Shah