The Hindi GEC space is exploding with love stories

Something strange is happening in the Hindi general entertainment channel (GEC) space. Until about nine months ago, at prime time, characters such as Tulsi and Mihr (of Star Plus' long-running and best-selling soap Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi) and Naitik and Akshara (of another long-running daily on Star, Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai) epitomized eternal love. Their romance was confined to the four walls of their homes, with about a dozen in-laws and at least a handful of children watching over their every move. Then came Anandi (Balika Vadhu, Colors), who had no choice in the boy she would marry. She and other young heroines instead fell in love with the mother, father and grandparents-in-law.

But over the last few months, things have begun changing. In mid-2011, the not-so-trim Ram Kapoor and the not so-sprightly-any-more Sakshi Tanwar burst on to the small screen in their avatars as Ram and Priya in Bade Achhe Lagte Hain on Sony (produced by Balaji Telefilms), billed not as a "family drama" but as a "different love story".

The credit for being the true game changer goes to Bade Achhe...—a "mature love story" in which two older characters decide to get married for their family's sake and then start falling in love.

THE 500-EPISODE FORMULA

Nissar Parvez, director, 4 Lions Films, has directed and produced some popular love stories on TV ('Geet', 'Miley Jab Hum Tum', 'Dill Mill Gayye', 'Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon'). Some secrets on what's worked for his shows

• Casting: You have to get the right male and female lead. The audience has to be able to feel the attraction between them, some kind of sexual tension. They must look at the duo and say, "Oooh, they look so good together."

• Opposites attract: The male and female lead have to be as different from each other as possible. That is the only way sparks will fly.

• Keep them apart: The leads cannot be friends or lovey-dovey from Day 1. Sure, the audience wants them to be together and married but what really works for a love story is when they are not together and the audiencestays curious about how they will become a couple.

• The point of view: The story should mostly follow the girl's point of view.

• Hero: He has to have a larger-than-life quality; the ability to do what no ordinary man can or would do.

• Sacrifice: A key element. One of the two lead characters must have the capability to sacrifice something dear to them at some point in the show.

• Focus: Even while the parallel leads or secondary characters are given screen time, they must somehow allude to or discuss the main leads in either a positive or negative way. In love stories, everything is about the protagonists.

• Screen space: Do not take the leads away from the screen for too long.

• Believe in it: As a director, I have to believe in the story completely and be convinced about every aspect. But I cannot write or build the story in accordance with what the audience wants. That is a complete no-no.

Read it all here:

http://www.livemint.com/2012/02/10201411/The-pecking-order.html?h=B

Originally posted by: avivakirk

Awesome news Yaar! so happy to see BALH set the trend of something hatke...The director's recipe for success is so true...how long can u have this unrealistic saga of love and suffering?

I am tellin you yaar.. i dont know how TRP is going down on this show. everyone i talk to here in the US and back home in India.. seem to be in love with this love story ... i mean come on..

Very Happy for the BALH team... 👏👏👏