kuri kuri (TV programme) | ಕುರಿ ಕುರಿ (ಟಿವಿ ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮ)

Theres a candid-camera kind of programme on Udaya TV at 10:30 PM every night (and I think its made a record of some sort by being the only programme (of its kind) thats aired 7 days a week.

*kuri* means sheep – which is used as a metaphor for anyone who is gullible – and basically its a typical candid camera kind of show. The *thoLa* (wolf) finds somebody maybe one who looks idle, and then enacts some strange kind of situation, which sometimes turns out to be quite a test of the kuri’s tolerance, patience and capacity to handle the totally unpredictable, sometimes outright annoying.

Once in a way its boring and I think over time they’ve really evolved and from going on to giving a cynical smile, as a viewer, I’ve found that quite a few times it makes me rock in laughter. I’m not sure how I would react if I was made a *kuri* but having watched the program kind of involuntarily (its my mom’s favorite programme) I’ve started to actually appreciate one very interesting thing about it.

If we look at the way it all begins, what happens typically is the *thoLa* Sunil, a really cartoonish looking extremely comical chap, approaches somebody who’s apparently standing waiting for somebody. Depending on the kuri – idea (often submitted by viewers) he might say something totally ridiculous like “saar, please give me your bike, I want to go meet my fiancee, its extremely important, I’ll give you Rs 100 rent per hour”. And then the fellow of course refuses vehemently, but Sunil keeps on persisting in various ways. Some get mildly annoyed, some are pretty calm, some keep laughing throughout the incident, various interesting reactions.

(Actually an epidemic of such serials had started with MTV Bakra by Cyrus long ago to the point where I think I might’ve started looking around for a video camera in any odd situation on the street! But I think they kind of died out eventually, IMO, nobody could beat the original. But this one here seems to be pretty good. Anyway all this is besides the point.)

Now the important part.

There are some *kuris* who take the situation extremely seriously. If they feel angry, they might take to verbal abuse, sometimes even violence – trying to assault the fellow. There was even once a lady who felt terrified (the *kuri idea* was that these people are posing as some government officials who have come to demolish just the front compound wall of her house for the construction of a borewell that would provide water to the entire community due to acute water shortage).

The seriousness, tension, anger, or hatred, on the faces of these people is so amazing.

An observation here: As an outside viewer, we know its all a joke. So we can laugh. But after all whom are we watching? We are watching someone else. But what if we were in the same situation. And now… how many times has it been, when we have actually been in the same situation! The only thing missing has been a hidden camera?

The kuri team seem to be pretty sensitive to know when to not carry things too far. Finally they let the *kuri* know its all a joke.

Then, as an alert viewer, you would observe one thing. The change in the expression of the kuri – the moment he/she realises its all a joke! From extreme anger, frustration, ill-will – to relief, laughter, and wonder! Its like some invisible switch was turned on, that changes their perspective of the whole situation! Now they are part of the joke, no longer the victim of it! Some even give the so far despicable *thoLa* a warm hug full of love!

OH… if only we could do this in real life!

(Later on the *kuri* is given a lot of gifts by different sponsors and a sincere apology from the team – reminds me of the ending of one of the H2G2 books 😉 )