Life OK scores a hit with a time band which no other channel can really claim. It?s an eyeball grab for viewers who shun fiction shows, because of the overdressed, melodrama between saas-bahu, lovers and couples almost every night, 8pm onwards. There are a few exceptions like Everest, Udaan, etc. With high action thrillers like Mahakumbh and Pukaar ? Call for the Hero, Life OK is likely to cultivate a new viewership, like young male adults, and the discerning woman viewer who cant see herself in overdressed weepy mode ever. Sure, the channel has soap in Ajeeb Dastaan since it?s a finite show and has a subplot of a political thriller, it?s still a bit of a change.

Pukaar has an appeal all its own. For one, there is an overall freshness to the look, cast, and content. The casting is well rid off the handful of faces that are seen across channels. The first refreshing face is Rannvijay Singh (MTV Roadies) who plays the protagonist Rajveer; a youth icon, Rannvijay may even attract his fans to the show and channel. Rannvijay is the fresh face of GEC Prime Time. He is a glove fit for the role of a young army officer. His action sequences have a flair and thrill.

Raj Babbar has made a few single episode appearances. Here he plays Ranveer and Rahul?s father, Amarjeet. Now that he?s been around for a month, he should be around till the end. A superlative actor, Babbar?s authoritative presence on screen is as resonant as his distinctive voice. Raj Babbar is the apt foil for Prashant Narayanan, who plays a pathological underworld boss man, who shoots his henchmen for failing in their duties to obliterate the enemy. Having done an odd serial or two, Narayanan is a wonderful actor to watch. He makes you want more of his menacing ways which he conducts like polished rake. After playing Om in the melodrama --Kahani Ghar Ghar Ki, Kiran Karmarkar has been opting for grey to dark roles. Here he is playing a double game.

Vipul Amrutlal Shah, who has been missing from television for some time now, is back, bringing his core competency from films to the small screen ? the perfect blend of the army, action and drama. Only he could have mounted a hand-to-hand combat thriller. The action scenes and fight sequences have the requisite finesse of a class thriller. A master of the genre on the big screen. Viewers will get to see a different style of action rarely explored on small screen. But he also touches upon the dynamics of father- son relationship. What?s surprising is that instead directing it himself, he has entrusted Deven Bhojani. The latter is among the commendable sitcom acting talent and director. Maybe Vipul Amrutlal Shah had a reason to give Bhojani the reins for a fresh perspective.

One can?t overlook the realness of the situations with the builder-politician- underworld nexus joining hands to move the basti, demolishing it, relocating it and again demolishing it. The police and BMC too have their vested interests. Rahul, Rajveer?s sibling stumbles across some plans? he goes missing? nobody messes with these men of ruthless power, but Rajveer.

Judging from the action sequences in the initial episodes, Pukaar will raise the bar to a different level for the small screen. Watching these scenes, they replicate the excitement of a sequence played on the larger than life screen. Life OK has always pushed the boundaries beyond the usual television content. Pukaar at 8.30 pm they have created a weekday action thriller slot. The New Year welcomes this change.