8/9/2019 Criticism Starplus

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2010 - Sulaiman Dawood

Television programs have been a source of entertainment for the last few decades. The

introduction of cable network and satellite transmission has by all means expanded the

horizons of entertainment without any limitations and boundaries that were set by the

broadcasting networks and authorities.

Star group of industries is one of the widest telecasted networks all over South Asiaincluding some parts of Europe and America. Not only does it cater the youth with its

aura but it also serves as an addiction to our eastern women in particular house wives and

teenage girls who are obsessed with the never ending soaps, musical shows and game

programs shown by the television network and broadcasted nearly twenty four hours a

day including a repeat transmission.

This addiction has increased by an exponential rate since the last five years with the

expansion of some of the major serials into never ending fables. These old wives tales eat

up an ample amount of the precious time of our youth and younger generation which tend

to station themselves in front of their plasmas instead of using their brain power in a

creative way. Their source of energy is lying dormant due to the fact that the thinkingcapabilities are just being forced to a halt by the rubbish fantasies portrayed by one of the

most widely watched channels of the Star Network, Star Plus.

Without much pep talk Id say it loud and clear that the impact of this channel which is so

called family based (if you can call a program telecasting advertisement of having safe

sex every five minutes) is completely devastating. Apart from destroying the social

norms and values of Pakistani culture this channel seems to exploit the years of natural

growth in which a teenager is going through an identity crisis. The viewership of this

channel includes a vast number of females and an abnormal number of male fans as well

who are no longer interested in their social, cultural or industrial life apart from being

couch potatoes.

This non-interactivity within a household can imbalance a natural flow of the family

dynamics and regenerate traumatic effects on its members. Superficially the training our

ladies of the house receive from programs aired by this network serve as a coaching class

to embellish within themselves the power of competition, jealousy and hatred. Each one

trying to prove the other woman wrong, degrade or demoralize her infront of a large

swarm of relatives or family members which sometimes include public. (Which in most

cases creates the scenario of the dramas aired on Star Plus)

Psychologically, the negative approach taken by the fair sex of our country is trying to

pick up the wrong means of communication and relationship building. Programs and

drama serials showing illicit relations and promoting friendships which to an extent are

prohibited in our religion comes at an intersection with the religion and culture followed

by those of the Hindus. This leads to an increased confusion in the already pathetic state

of teenage identity crisis.

8/9/2019 Criticism Starplus

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2010 - Sulaiman Dawood

Programs lead teenage woman into taking wrong decisions which at times can cost their

lives or the lives of their loved ones. Wastage of time comes hand in hand with the fact

that the increasing influence of Indian fashion which sometimes appear to be far more

western is creeping into our homes through our cable networks and I feel ashamed as Star

Plus takes the lead into spoiling our traditions with those of the outlaws.

I recommend a ban on this network especially on Star Plus which is debilitating and

deviating the minds of our younger generation from creativity to cynicism. As a nation

we should stand upright against such television networks whose main aim is to mislead

the youth of our nation which is indeed the most valuable asset to be lost at the hands of

entertainment.

Sulaiman Dawood

Department of Psychology

University of Karachi