ENTERTAIN SERIOUSLY

  Ready for serious entertainment?

Numerous stalls were selling textiles and dresses. There were shops for novelties, products from cottage industries, khadi items, footwear, traditional toys, dress accessories and non-precious imitation jewellery. It is a no brainer, to guess that this is a walk thru through a ‘mele’. In all, there were over 300 stalls. Juice centres, fast food, pure veg stalls, sit down eat, Chinese, Mexican and many other varieties of food were sold in as many as 15 stalls. The fete is certainly a get together on a weekend for the people in the city. This is a serious day. But in all its seriousness is certainly an inherent value of entertainment. Devoid of the buffooning, the fun sports, the street foods and other comedy factors, this ‘mele’ could not have attracted such tens of thousands of people. Much enthusiasm was generated among the visitors to the stalls.

All the serious features enhance its own energy if infused with a dab of entertainment into it. Many motivational speakers deliver very serious topic in their words. The lessons they teach are spoken sincerely and earnestly. As you know that they give a generous number of anecdotes and human examples there by eliminating the chance of boredom. On the contrary, all the entertainers will not be successful without seriousness. Have you visited a standup comedy show lately? Though it is strictly a comedy show much thought has gone into calculations, articulations and measurements. The estimated duration of the show, the impact on the listener and even the timing of the laughter in the audience has been researched, studied and recorded. The stand up comedian must have rehearsed a show and has submitted himself to much scrutiny and examinations by a jury. If entertainment is the journey then seriousness is the destination. Then there is enthusiasm in consumer and his stamina to engage with you is your objective.

In schools, students would have studied better if the academics was not only seriously demanding but also had applied some entertainment.

Even religious festivals have entertainment value. Whether it is Temple Pooram, Diwali firecrackers, colourful Holi, the church festivals or even the festival of Eid, have all solemn frameworks of discipline, academic characteristics and civilized manners.

What can you say about a poetry recital, a ghazal, jazz or classical renderings? Are they strictly and seriously a matter of compliance or has in it the freedom to entertain? Only when seriousness and entertainment comes together, then the enthusiasm is invoked in the listener. The seriousness enlivens the frivolous and the entertainment balance the rigidities. This fine balance brings tasteful results. People flock to discotheques, pubs or even nightclubs for entertainment. Without a serious approach to exposure, spending and other extravaganza the night life-‘entertainment’ will appear to be trivial. Certainly the rap, reggae, hip-hop, retro and even indie pop are all consumed by a segment called young people. Responsible consumption of entertainment is an indicator of maturity. All entertainment stays intact for larger duration only if consumption is judicious. In short entertainment is a serious business.

The cinema in the theatre is considered as entertainment also. The Government even takes an entertainment tax when you indulge. But behind the scenes and the screens, this is a serious industry. Many Universities offer serious academic education in script writing, voice dubbing, light, sound engineering, camera and photography, acting and all other components of cinematography and the art of filmmaking. These are seriously certified educations. The filmgoers and the fans have enthusiasm because of a seriously organized format of the show and the theatre. The energy as they watch the movie is unhindered because of the correctness of power supply, sounds system, seating or even the correctly served refreshments.

The television channels comes on your face with its food shows. And all the food shows are certainly appetizing that even makes you to salivate. There are serious foods, designer, fun, street food and many others. But devoid of an inherent entertainment value in these foods most of them will appear bland and avoidable. Consider the fashion shows and the dress trends for summer, winter and for all the seasons and diverse moons in between. Cut colours, pester colours and infinite numbers of patterns are made to not only cover the body but also to entertain the wearer and the viewer. Consider giving an application to enroll in National Institute of Fashion Designing. You will be compelled to make an observation that fashion is a serious industry. Perhaps it has skipped your attention of all the serious toil and effort that goes into training. But please ask the sport champion. His show in competition in the stadium certainly is of entertainment to hundred’s of thousands of people. But the journey to the championship is of strive, struggle and exertion. For the athletes that entertain you, this entertainment is a serious competition. You will agree with me that it is shocking that the serious politics in many countries have become features of entertainment. Government, administration and legislators are serious. The under serving leaders has converted this mobility into a mockery. The struggle for power and greed for resources may drive the foolish person to violate. The serious criminal intention and even an exaggeration of horror have also found a position as an entertainer in drama and theatre.

The ‘mele’, the fete or even an international expo needs its seriousness and entertainment. The enthusiasm in a consumer is sparked off only when these come together. The consumers’ purchase decision is changed when the product satisfy the needs of amusement, enjoyment, comfort and convenience. Welcome to serious entertainment.