Satyamev Jayate () is an Indian Hindi-language television talk show aired on various channels within Star Network along with Doordarshan's DD National. The first season of the show premiered on 6 May 2012 and marked the television debut of popular Bollywood actor and filmmaker Aamir Khan. The second season of the show was aired from 2 March 2014 and the third season started from 5 October 2014.

The show focuses on sensitive social issues prevalent in India such as female foeticide, child sexual abuse, rape, honour killings, domestic violence, untouchability, discrimination, acceptance of alternative sexualities, toxic masculinity, alcoholism, and the criminalization of politics. It aims to bring the great achievements of people which often go unnoticed in order to encourage the audience to achieve their goals no matter what comes in between. It also aims to empower citizens with information about their country, and urge them to take action. While the primary language of the show is Hindi, it is simulcast in eight languages such as Bengali, Malayalam, Marathi, Tamil and Telugu, and subtitled in English, to ensure maximum reach.

The first season of Satyamev Jayate garnered over a billion digital impressions from 165 countries, with responses from viewers in many countries, mainly Asian and African countries, including India, China, Djibouti, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Isle of Man, and Papua New Guinea. A sum of was received as donations by the NGOs featured on this season. The second season was watched by 600 million Indians. The causes raised in the second season were supported by over 30million people and the season generated more than one billion impressions online.

Production

Concept The concept of the show was not revealed in the Indian media until the show officially went on air on 6 May 2012. There were also no get-togethers, parties or press conferences organized to discuss the content, leading up to the premiere of the show. However, various sources reported the show to be based on "the common man" rather than being fictional. Also, based on its content, it was mostly referred as a talk show discussing social issues like child labour, health problems and other issues affecting the country. Khan, who is known for keeping secrecy for his movies, was quoted saying, "I don`t want to talk much about how the show will be, and about its format. I want everyone to see it directly on TV." However, commenting on the theme of the show, he said, "The show is about meeting the common man of India, connecting with India and its people." He also added, "Through this show we understand the problem of the people, we are not here to make a change. I am no one to change anything. I don`t think I am in the position to change anything else. I feel understanding a problem and feeling it or holding one's hand or hugging is also important. I may not have the solution, but at least I can hear and understand."

Development Uday Shankar, CEO of STAR India, suggested Aamir Khan to venture into television. Khan, however, was hesitant at first but agreed and worked upon the concept of the show for two years. In an interview with Zee News, he said, "Initially I was scared to do the show as we were travelling on a different path. I was worried. It was in a way difficult, but we knew what we are doing is different, but it comes straight from our heart." He also added, "I cannot say I understand TV completely. I was earlier scared to go ahead with the project. I can only say I have made this show with complete honesty and without compromising on anything."

The shooting of the show took place in several states of India and Khan traveled extensively over several weeks to various places in Rajasthan, Kashmir, Kerala, Delhi, Punjab, and in the Northeast India. The studio portions of the show were shot in Vrundavan Studio and Yash Raj Studios in Mumbai. Khan was adamant about naming the show 'Satyameva Jayate' as he felt it completely gelled with the theme, which indicated that the show is of, for and belongs to people of India. However, Khan later learnt the fact that the title 'Satyameva Jayate' belonged to the country and cannot be registered for the copyrights as it cannot be exploited on a creative level for promotional activities. The team however went ahead and borrowed the title.

Soundtrack Aamir Khan came up with the idea of launching a music album for the show. He along with Ram Sampath, the music director of Delhi Belly, created 13 songs for the 13 episodes that were telecast in the inaugural season of the show. In addition, the songs from the album of the show were released digitally every week on Hungama.com and also across all mobile operators as the series proceeds. The album was also released in Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada. Sukhwinder Singh recorded a 22-minute-long song for the show which was written by Prasoon Joshi. On the song, Sukhwinder Singh said, "Yes, I Nishit Mehta, Swaroop Khan and many more have sung a song which will be used in the title track and some will be incorporated in the show. It is a dream song; it is a song which will reflect humanity and nationality."

Controversy Palash Sen, the lead singer of the Indian rock band Euphoria sued and sent a legal notice to Ram Sampath, for plagiarism of the title track of the show. Sen commented that, "The trailers and the anthem of this show have been running on television for quite a while, but I had not seen the videos. When I heard it, I was shocked." He claimed that in the year 2000, his band Euphoria released its second album Phir Dhoom, and one of its songs was named "Satyameva Jayate". According to him, the refrain of Ram Sampath's track is exactly the same as the chants in his song. He went on to add that, "They've basically used the same refrain. Jo baaki ka gaana hai (the rest of the song), has different words and tune. But the mainstay of the song — the chorus – is ours." Sen also stated that he wouldn't have minded giving Sampath the permission to use the tune of his version of "Satyamev Jayate" had he asked him for his consent and in return he would have just asked for a small credit to the band for the song.

Broadcast

Satyamev Jayate was the first show of Indian television which aired simultaneously on a private channel network STAR and a national broadcaster Doordarshan. The show was dubbed in several languages including three southern Indian languages viz., Malayalam, Tamil and Telugu, along with Bengali and Marathi. Apart from Star Plus, the show was simulcast on STAR World (with English Subtitles), STAR Utsav, STAR Pravah, STAR Jalsha, Asianet and STAR Vijay within the STAR Network and other channels including DD National and Eenadu TV. Besides India, the show aired in over 100 countries around the world. On the broadcast, Khan commented, "This show is being launched on a large scale. I had to make complete use of this medium. This is a baby step in that direction."

Satyamev Jayate was dubbed into Kannada but was not broadcast in the language, due to a self-imposed and self-enforced ban by the Kannada film industry, which does not allow a dubbed version of any serial or movie to telecast in the state. The Kannada film industry, however, does approve Kannada remakes of the same. After the first episode, Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray requested the Karnataka government to allow the show to be aired. On the issue, Thackeray commented that "This show must not be tied up in parochial chains or barred from the public. This is our view." Khan also requested the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce to allow the show to be aired in Karnataka. The first episode in Kannada was later released on show's official site.

The show premiered on 6 May 2012 and was telecast on Sundays at 11 am IST thereafter. While the channel authorities were high on showcasing it in the prime time at 9 pm, Khan wanted to telecast it on Sunday mornings since the slot was commonly considered as "family TV viewing" time in Indian television after popular shows Mahabharata and Ramayana were aired on Sunday mornings and were highly successful. He was reported saying, "I wanted to telecast my show on Sunday morning. I want each family to watch the show and connect with it. We have watched Ramayana and Mahabharata and it used to come on Sunday morning. The shows created a different atmosphere." He further added that, "I don't understand TRPs and GRPs. I have no idea how to calculate it! I don't care about it. It is important to reach out to the Indian audiences. If viewers want to see, they will see or else it is up to them."

Special screening in villages Star Plus organised a special screening of the first episode of the show in some villages in Gujarat, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh where the villagers do not have access to television. The initiative was said to have been taken to ensure Satyamev Jayate reaches all over the country as it caters to the issues of the common people of the country. The program was screened on 6 May 2012, during the same time it was aired across the country, on community TV sets in villages like Bhingara and Kahupatta in Maharashtra, Chepa in Gujarat, Jhunkar in Madhya Pradesh, Tikeri, Lalpur, Sarauta, Khannapurwa and Maniram in Uttar Pradesh. Most of these villages are reported to have a population of less than 5,000. Gayatri Yadav from STAR India stated that, "This is an important and relevant show for all of India and Star India is going all out to make sure that this show reaches out to all Indians even in places with limited or no TV connectivity." Based on the response to its first episode, the screening of subsequent episodes in a similar manner is being considered by STAR.

Sponsors The show was presented and sponsored by Airtel and co-sponsored by Aqua guard. Other associate sponsors included Coca-Cola, Johnson & Johnson, Skoda Auto, Axis Bank, Berger Paints and Dixcy Scott. The title sponsorship was signed at around to , while associate sponsors paid around to . STAR India was reported to give exclusivity to its sponsors by not selling any advertising spots to any of its sponsors competitor's brand. Khan asked his brand managers not to buy any advertising slots or screen any of his advertisements during the show, fearing the dilution of its impact. The channel was reportedly paid a sum of for a 10-second advertising slot and had only 30 seconds of ad inventory left after the first episode went on air.

Marketing

Promotions

The teasers of the show were premiered on YouTube on 2 April 2012. The makers of show booked around 2,000 slots for the broadcaster's promos in 27 hours for an amount of . Reportedly, this was the highest costing promotional campaign for any Indian television show. Besides, the show was also promoted in Indian theaters. The theme song of the show was shown in 300 theaters across the country after the national anthem. In addition, interactive sessions were organized with audiences about the show in selected multiplexes of Mumbai and New Delhi. The responses of the audience were recorded and shown on screen during movie intervals. B. V. Rao of Aamir Khan Productions, claimed that "This is the first time that a TV show is being promoted in cinema halls." On 3 May 2012, Khan appeared on the daily soap Diya Aur Baati Hum, aired on Star Plus to promote the show.

Theme song

The promo song of the show was composed by Ram Sampath, written by Prasoon Joshi and sung by Keerthi Sagathia & Nishit Mehta. Initially planned to compose a national song or an anthem, the team, however, composed a patriotic love song reflecting the love for the country and relating it with each Indian. The song was shot by Ram Madhvani in different states of India and was released on 13 April 2012.

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