Have you noticed how much they fidget? And speak with their hands or employ body language instead of words? They stalk their prey, they gesture broadly, they make faces, they shake and do everything possible to make stillness impossible. We speak of our TV news reporters and anchors. Never seen so much motion in commotion before. If you watch BBC or CNN, notice that anchors and reporters tend to keep their heads still, their hands on the table or by their sides and about the only things that moves are their lips. In the case of Indian news people, there’s nothing that does not speak to us. Quite the most typical of this species appear on CNN-IBN where everyone flings arms, bodies and words at us like guided missiles. And they tend to speak in this loud lullabye voice- sing song, sing along. Do news anchors reflect Indian habits?

Time to recommend Galli Galli Sim Sim (Cartoon Network). Here speech and action were wonderful in the newly launched children’s show, an Indian version of the highly-acclaimed American Sesame Street. The show’s muppets are delightful in their simple lessons for everyday life. Going to bed on time is good for health, brushing teeth before going to bed is equally good and turning off taps when not is use is always good ¿ prosaic advise but the shaggy, shambling muppets deliver them with such artlessness and humour that you don’t mind the obvious truths. Recommended viewing for the child in all of us who has forgotten what’s good for us.

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