The other day we were clutching our collective hearts over a robotic dog that turned out to be less Make in India and more Made Somewhere Else. For a brief shining moment, we were united in embarrassment. How could we present a Chinese pup as our very own desi Doberman and expect the world not to check its birth certificate?
But before we could finish gasping and demand apologies, the remote control of the nation clicked to the next episode.
Suddenly there was a grand welcome in Israel. Cameras. Handshakes. Smiles so wide you could park a convoy in them. The robotic dog quietly limped off the screen. Cue dramatic music. Roll credits on Episode One. Welcome to Episode Two.
Ladies and gentlemen, may I present Netflix India.
Have you noticed how modern serials work? There is no story anymore. There is only excitement.
Just when you are about to ask a sensible question like, “What happened to that scandal?” a new twist arrives. A new villain. A new revelation. A new wedding. A new arrest. The background music grows louder. The lighting becomes dramatic. And you forget what you were upset about in the last episode.
The new excitement keeps your occupied.
Our country seems to have adopted the same screenplay strategy.
A flyover collapses. Shock. Outrage. Panel discussions. Before you can ask who’s responsible or try to dig deeper, the director shouts, “Bring in the next dramatic excitement!” And there it is. A new controversy. A new person hugged. A new international embrace.
The previous tragedy fades into oblivion.
A crime shocks the nation. We light candles. We tweet in uppercase. We shake our heads solemnly. Then boom. Fresh drama. Louder. Shinier. More emotional. The camera zooms in. We zoom out of memory.
The genius of it all is not the drama. It is the timing.
In the old days, governments had to answer questions. Now they just need better programming. Why apologise when you can premiere? Why explain when you can entertain? Why correct when you can distract?
And we, the viewers, are hooked.
We sit on our sofas, popcorn in hand, arguing about the latest twist while yesterday’s cliffhanger gathers dust. We rate performances. We praise dialogue delivery. We defend our favourite characters as though they are family. “Wait for the next episode,” we say confidently, as though justice is scheduled for Friday at 8 pm.
Meanwhile the robotic dog wags its imported tail somewhere in the background.
This is the new governance model. Keep the nation emotionally binge watching.
Keep the soundtrack loud enough so nobody hears the inconvenient questions.
Keep the episodes coming so fast that memory has no time to breathe.
And as long as the drama continues, we will nod wisely and say, “What a gripping show.”
Netflix, please take notes. India has mastered your art to perfection…!