Satyameva Jayate means Truth stands invincible. It is a Hindu mantra from the ancient scripture Mundaka Upanishad. Upon the independence of India, this was adopted as the national motto of India.
Aamir Khan Productions’ Satyamev Jayate on Star Plus has managed to create a buzz amongst the masses. It is being watched by millions across the globe. But one question still lingers in everyone’s heart. Will it manage to stir the emotions of Indian citizens and trigger a revolution?
One cannot be sure about the revolution but yes, the series has and will definitely create an impact in the minds of the people. And you never know…it might bring in a positive change. Aamir is doing a great job.
PTI reported Aamir Khan as saying, “He has assured me that the government is already working on the issue and will continue to do so.” Aamir further added, “The CM told me that after watching the first episode, he had called a meeting of senior officials. It is an important issue for the entire country and he has decided to take it forward strongly.”
Aamir Khan claims to address the roots of social evils, engages statistics, experts and pending court cases to illustrate his findings while offering solutions to overturn Indian feudal structure, all within an hour’s televised show, intensified with tears, hopes and resolutions. And the unprecedented success of ‘Satyamav Jayate’ underlines that this tactic is effectively working. If a generation had somehow failed to awaken following Rang de Basanti, it is wide awake, this time.
Each episode is a testament to this resounding success. Aamir poses significant questions in the beginning, acknowledges the conventional answers, moves on to dismantle those very assumptions, and the audience bursts into tears at its own ignorance and at the promise of a new tomorrow bereft of the maladies.
Just when the cynics wonder if he has turned self-righteous, it turns out ‘Satyamev Jayate’ works precisely because Aamir identifies himself entirely with the audience. He, too, learns of the bitter truths about Indian society from the very show itself, live on the stage. “Mujhe bhi aaj yeh seekh mili hai” is oft-repeated. Along with the audience, he is shocked at the barbaric, with them he sheds the tears, with them he signs petitions. The routine criticisms usually reserved for holier than thou shows simply find no outlets here.
Finally, it is the content area where the Aamir Khan effect shines. Female infanticide, dowry tortures, child sexual abuse – the themes so far – are societally entrenched as innately problematic, inherently evil and acutely in need of redress. They are so commonplace that they should have ideally lost any shock value by now; and yet Satyamev Jayate revels in the euphoric disconnect of the audience with their harmful consequences.
