Stars' take on Star One's six day development..

 

Star One's shows have gone six days from the earlier five days a week and the schedule has already started from the current week.  With the shows going six days a week, viewers are definitely going to see their favorite stars in their favorite shows for an extra day and they will no longer have to wait for the surprise element, with which a show normally ends on Friday.

But was it really a wise decision by the channel to take the shows to a day further in a week?

Well, there are indeed pros and cons related to the issue. Also we see that most of the shows are having multi tracks bringing in more characters to add on to the episode banks. But the question is whether this will dilute the main content of the show or not? Addition of more characters implies more stories and the rule of CINTAA, stating that actors cannot work for more than 12 hours, also brings in the fact that the lead actors might get less screen space together. Won't that be a disappointment for the viewers?

Tellybuzz put forth these questions to the stars of shows in Star One and they gave the following responses.  

Raunaq Ahuja:

I personally feel that people want something fresh for weekends like movies, and daily soaps are perfect with a schedule from Monday to Friday. When the shows go to weekends, the work becomes more hectic and also it might affect the content. There are pros and cons related to this issue. One advantage that we enjoy is we will earn more (laughs), but simultaneously there is a demand of more episode bank which in turn demands more input from the actors and the production crew.  Addition of multi tracks can be worked out for limited number of shows and not for all, because I believe that a show should have a conviction. The rule that CINTAA has put forward is hardly followed by people and the show lacking audience, for not seeing the lead pairs together, is an issue that can affect those shows that are running on the leads like Dill Mill Gaye.

Priyanka Bassi:

I feel that it is a great move from the channel to make it six days and it is a good strategy to hold on to the existing audience. As far as the work is concerned, both the producers as well as the actors will have to put in more effort. I can't really say how the addition of multi tracks can affect the show but it will definitely add to the bank of episodes. A show always focuses on the central characters but the channel and the production crew know the market and their audience. But with a strategy like this coming in, the entire production has to pull up their socks.  

Karan Tacker:

I am sure it is a good corporate decision as the channel will benefit financially and also with respect to the viewership. But at the same time it is a torture for the actors, the unit as well as for the channel because shows on weekends command more episode banks and in turn more work. I do not think the content will get affected because our show is always pegged by Shantanu and Khanak and the story will always be on them, but at the same time there will be other parallel tracks. Regarding the audience having less time with the lead pair together is not an issue because the appearance of different cast will be balanced and channel has taken the decision keeping in mind the demands of the audience and I am sure that they are not going to mess it up. And the story extended out of Shantanu and Khanak will be a fun to see.

Sara Khan:

I think it is a good decision that the channel has come up with because normally on weekends people just chill out and browse through the channel. So instead of playing a show twice, it is good to entertain them more with the existing shows. If the show goes for six days audience will get to see us for one more day but at the same time there is chance that they get bored of us (laughs). Since our show has just started, we are in the stage of setting character sketch of all the roles and right now the story is just around Alka Tiwari. Even though there are other stories in the show and even though there are diversions in the story,the main track is based on Alka.

Vivian Dsena:

I cannot quote on the issue because it is the channel's decision to air the shows on Saturdays and we are actors who are supposed to work. As far as the decision is concerned, it is a good decision for the shows as well as for the channel because the audience will get one more day to get connected with the show and their stars. But at the same time there is an element of working hard without much holidays and as an actor you are bound to do that. The rules (CINTAA) as of now is not been followed strictly and the inclusion of multi tracks is unavoidable in a show like ours. Out story is college based and it cannot revolve around one or two characters and also people get bored with monotony of characters. Episodes are divided depending on the storyline and also the supporting casts too have their own importance.

Kanika Maheshwari:

Regarding the new schedule it is the channel's reservation to take up the decision like that and with this there is always pressure on the actors because the script is cut to cut which makes it difficult for them. And working for one more day means there is no personal life to enjoy but at the same time there is more entertainment and more popularity as far as the audience is concerned. There are pros and cons in everything in life. Regarding this, in a way I feel that we are restricting the audience to have fun on Saturdays because Saturdays are days when people do partying and other light stuffs. I think the channel people are getting hyper because in the beginning the schedule was Monday to Thursday which later then was made till Friday and now to Saturday. You never know when it might go till Sunday.  Addition of multi tracks can harm the story in a way because it can make the audience diverted which later makes them bored. Regarding the CINTAA rules, we strictly follow that on the sets including the production. Earlier people used to watch the show for its content and not for the lead actors. Even though they are the face of the show, there used to be an interesting story attached to them that people had looked for.

The stars feel that it is a good decision from channel to take this step considering the fact that they remain connected to the audience for a day more. But the pressure on the actors and the effort they put in the show has to be pulled up.

I hope the proverb 'all work and no play makes jack a dull boy' doesn't apply to the actors because they keep the audience entertained.

As viewers what is you take on the issue?

Reporter and Author: Saranya Valsarajan