The Wave Of Historical & Mythological Shows On TV - A 'Revolution' or 'Herd Mentality'?

Such a mixed bag of entertainment viewing are we living in. Indian television is probably at the epitome of practicing experiments and taking risks. However, this deed is buried by having several makers following what we call 'herd mentality'.

From having supernatural thrillers booming out of nowhere to fading out in recent times, it seems there is another trend that his hit the show makers recently. And that is of presenting mythological and historical TV shows. There is no denying that the presence of these shows have been on the tube for a long time now, but the recent prosperity and popularity of this genre of shows have led several to believe that 'Ok, this is working, let's do this.'

The next thing we know, this above statement is thought by multiple people and we have an inundation of shows of the same genre. So, why did this happen and how can it be bettered?

In modern era, this began a couple of years ago, when television witnessed the unprecedented success of a show called Naagin. A creation of TV czarina Ekta Kapoor starring Mouni Roy, Adaa Khan and Arjun Bijlani in lead roles went on to break records when it came to the rating charts and popularity. Soon, several showrunners decided to capitalize on this 'trend' and came up with their own supernatural thrillers or even introduced tracks with 'naagins' in their respective shows. Some worked, some bombed. But, the viewers were the one who became the victims of monotony.

The recent decline in the ratings of Naagin 2 while it was approaching its finale denoted how it was merely a purple patch which is fading away. Currently, on television, there isn't one successful show running on television which is of supernatural genre. Had a reality check? Yes. It's true.

It's been a while since Colors channel introduced the historical period drama Shani starring Kartikey Malviya and almost around the same period, Star Plus introduced Chandra Nandini starring Rajat Tokas and Shweta Basu Prasad in lead roles. While, Shani has been an on and off entrant in the Top 10 shows list every week, Chandra Nandini has been receiving mixed phases of success and downfall. But, apparently, this was enough for other channels and makers to have an 'idea bulb' moment that, Let's make a mythological/historical show, because this is 'working.'

Of course, I totally understand that the success of these sort of shows isn't novel. Several shows of the same genre have been overwhelmingly successful in the past. But, what wasn't a concern back then was how none of the other channels looked at this as an opportunity and bombarded the viewers with same kind of shows. There were phases and there was a time period when the audience had the liberty to fathom not more than couple of similar shows along with other dramas. But, in current scenario, this seems to be changing.

From January 2017 till today, we had the introduction of shows like Peshwa Bajirao, Sher-E-Punjab: Maharaja Ranjit Singh, Aarambh, Paramavatar Shri Krishna being launched along with other shows like Sankat Mochan Mahabali Hanuman and Santoshi Maa already on-air. Already feeling too much? Incidentally, all the above mentioned shows have now gone off-air except Paramavar Shri Krishna.

Well, the herd mentality is soon going to be at the maximum with Sony TV channel's plan of presentations, where Vignaharta Ganesha is already on-air, while Pritvhi Vallabh starring Ashish Sharma and Sonarika Bhadoria and Porus starring Laksh Lalwani and Rohit Purohit on their primetime slots.

I gave it a thought that how Sony TV channel viewers are going to have a barrage of historical and mythological shows completely (pretty much). From 7:30 pm to 10:30 pm, the channel will be having 4 shows of historical and mythological genre thus dominating the whole slot.

Albeit a channel like Sony TV, who gave us shows like Beyhadh, Kuch Rang Pyar Ke Aise Bhi and Pehredaar Piya Ki in recent times is taking such a step; there is an undeniable reason for this practice. And that is the audience. We can keep debating and sulking over how shows like P.O.W - Bandi Yuddh Ke and 24 do not work, but it is ultimately the audience who is to blame too, isn't it?

The reach of such shows remain minimal while the family dramas and historical/mythological shows reach even the remotest of places. The reason is that the rural population in India is humonguously higher than the urban population and the former may not completely relate to gritty, dark and real concepts posed as fiction.

Having said the above point, it is on the makers to not follow the herd mentality and take the courage to present an out-of-the-box concept at intervals. I understand the financial credentials involved in a show bombing on the rating charts, but this belief and scare has been axed by brave makers like Nikhil Advani and Goldie Behl who took it upon themselves to give the audience of television a spectacle with concept and grandeur respectively. While, P.O.W - Bandi Yuddh Ke may have been marginally unsuccessful and Aarambh may not be receiving the desired ratings, makers like the ones mentioned above continue to bar the limits and endure the losses promoting the idea of taking risks and presenting quality content.

Even though, we may have no alternative to the new flock of shows coming in, we can only hope the trend doesn't get dominated even more thus enabling an all-historical and mythological show presentation.

What do you have to say about the same? Leave in your comments below...