Serial Killers of Tamilnadu

Sometime ago, I had written that Alcoholism is the biggest killer in our country - compared to any other diseases or evils. But, of late, I am forced to reconsider that view. There is one even bigger killer in Tamilnadu. Visiting everyone's house day after day. Poisoning people to become brain dead. They are the Serial Killers of Tamilnadu.

I mean the Tamil Television serials that invade each and every household that has TV day after day. They too target the mind like Alcohol and make it numb, non-responsive and make people an addict over a period of time. But, these serial killers are more dangerous because this addiction does not even have the social sanction that alcohol is faced with; and hence is affecting the entire family in the centre of the household! At least, the effect of alcohol may wear out after some time; but these television serials leave a permanent effect in our minds.

What effect am I talking about?

First of all, these serials make one believe that there are only two kinds of people - those who cheat and whose who get cheated. Nothing in between and no normal people at all. No wonder why people lose faith in humanity these days.

Second, there is no normal event happens in life. Like people happily going out or eating together or joking or playing or whatever. All the time everyone is scheming to do some harm to others or to take revenge. Increase in mental illnesseses like depression in our society can be directly linked to these serial killers, I am sure.

Third, and the most obnoxious of all, is that the villains of all these serial killers are people within the household - not those gangsters or farway aliens or rich tycoons or underworld dons or anything. It will be just your mother or sister in law or a brother or a neighbour. All possible normal relationships are targeted and are portrayed as the bad ones. They are especially harsh on women - ironically because, most of the viewers are supposed to be women. As a recent cartoon in a Tamil newspaper said, "these serial makers should be punished under Prevention of Atrocities to Women"!

People in their most heinous avatars or everything about our bad qualities in the most pronounced form! If they keep visiting you day after day, you would feel that people will hate them. But, everyone plans all their activities based on the timings of these serials - finish everything before 'Mekala' starts, do that one after 'Selvi' is finished, can we finish this lesson between 'Idayam' and 'Kasthuri', I will call you after 'Arasi' is over - etc., and are extremely eager to invite these serial killers.

I am damn worried about the future of Tamil society.