Satyamev Jayate - Premise, Context and Review

Reading this post first may help...

[Image Src. : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aamir_Khan ]
Satyamev Jayate - Review
The Premise
Why would I want to watch a talk show that focuses on  social causes?
Best Possible Answer : To gain some perspective, information that I could use - provided I get entertained along the way...
The Context
The show must have the following :

• A Good Presentation, structure and flow
• Deep research, intelligent analysis , very subtle opinions. 
• No slight of hand or pedaling of vested interests
• Presenter Credibility vis a vis the subject or In this case Aamir Khan's convictions to present and spread awareness on social causes

The Review
Within the realms of the above context, here's what I feel about the show. 
Aamir's a decent host but can get monotonous with his "हमारे सात जुड़ने के लिए दन्यवाद" and "दोस्तों, हम अब देकेन्गे ...." that being said, the dude's way more than bearable and way less than outstanding. 
The show has a simple structure :

• There is a subject
• Aamir does an introduction
• There are multiple illustrations through interviews with victims and their familes
• Aamir does a summary after every interview
• On the other side, there are interviews with Subject Matter experts
• Aamir makes a hald baked attempt at summarizing a solution
• There's a poignant song in the end which completes the explicit juxtaposition of entertainment with the show
• The audience chimes in on cue - [As insensitive as this may sound, the live audience are rendered dumb, there is no counter perspective offered and while they rightly exhibit their sympathies by shedding a tear or two, one would expect them to dwell in with their honest thoughts..that never happens!]

There's little flow and the show is "problem description heavy" and "solution light" which lends credibility to critics claim of Aamir unleashing misery porn on television viewers
It would appear that a fair amount of research has gone into understanding the problem but very little into it's causal. In one of his most banal summaries - 
Aamir talks about the misconception among people that being born handicapped is an atonement for a past sin. He goes on to quote the example of reducing polio cases to cite that the lack of relation
As admirable as that may be, it is also a misrepresentation of the concept of Karma. On the contrary - people who have bought into the concept of Karma would not be insensitive to deformed or handicapped children for the very reason [of Karma]. Folks who are insensitive are either.....well, insensitive by nature or have no understanding of what a sin is..
In the same episode, Aamir proposes that amenities of public places like school should be made 'handicap friendly' (for want of a better word). 
Correct again, but rather startlingly, he doesn't dwell on any medical root cause for occurrence of deformities in newly born children. There is absolutely no insight offered on best practices for wannabe mothers and fathers - the fact that a mother's blood (among-st other factors) need to be as 'clean' as possible for the birth of a healthy baby
In effect pedagogy nay even preaching-out-loud creeps in from time to time..
Aamir appears pre-disposed towards certain opinions and directs his interviews accordingly. Which brings me to my point on the slight of hand - In one of this episodes, he interviews the Khap panchayat and it turns out to be one sham of an interview that would put seasoned TV hosts to shame..- When one of the Khap members starts explaining the premise of their law by citing that even the UK relies on traditions for it's verdict - Aamir cuts him short by saying - but we are not in the UK, we are in India, the audience claps! I cringe!
The interview does not help us understand what the Khap is, what circumstances it operates under, it's record in dealing with cases - nothing. For the non observant eye - Aamir appears fair by getting in the perspective of the antagonist, but in reality, he just makes you see what he wants you to see..
I'll lump credibility and vested interests together and wind this up :
I like Aamir Khan - he's a decent actor, not a perfectionist and far from being one of our best actors, very little irritates me more than comparisons with Kamal Haasan and Aamir. He's a damn good film maker and has a demeanor that makes me appreciate his genuineness for social causes and not question his credibility to deliver. But to be honest, I am at best ambivalent on the subject of Aamir's credibility because the folks who point out his own personal life of multiple marriages and extra marital affairs do have a case. While nothing he does may be unlawful, the jury of a moral court would be unambiguous in convicting him. 
[But then who are we to talk about morality ? - Who should we be ? is a response that is ignored - but I digress -]
In summary, the show just about passes muster, offers some interesting information but is largely dumb'ed down and attempts to put band-aid over cancer!
What's going for it as far as I am concerned is that it does a good job of highlighting serious issues in our society and that is something that I can appreciate.
I also respect Aamir for nurturing this image and delivering towards it in contrast to his peers (whether the image and reality are the same is best left on the back burner for now..)
I'll continue watching Satyameva Jayate until the banality index tips over and my cringes start showing signs of evolving into a fit..
I will however not denounce it because :
Aamir is looking to profit out of the venture 
or
Because Everything is forgotten after the show. The day we rely on a celebrity to fix our priorities for us is the day our brains have started becoming vestigial.