'Bandini' is a proof of 'change'

Ekta Kapoor once ruled the small screen like an empress but things have changed. The K'diva, the K'ueen of soaps is slowly losing the acclaim she earned. And that is evident with her shows going off the air one by one. It began with 'Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi', which went off the air due to falling TRPs and the shutdown of 'Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii'
followed. 'Kayamath', 'Kasturi' and 'Karam Apnaa Apnaa' may be next in line. There were huge expectations from 'Kahaani Hammaray Mahabharat Ki' but it failed to meet them.

The latest shows from Balaji, 'Bandini' and 'Kitani Mohabbat Hai' on NDTV Imagine went on air this week. And though one show does have the eponymous letter 'K', the other does not have the Ekta signature. On chat show 'Koffee with Karan' a few years ago, Ekta said that it was for sentimental reasons that all her show titles began with the letter 'K' and that it would apply to all future shows.

So what has happened? Change has come most likely and 'Bandini' is proof of this. It is obvious that sentimentality has had its run and it's time for something different. Of course, Ekta can never be written off – she has real talent and her new shows may work for her like the past ones did. However, there seems to be a huge change in the TV scenario, especially after the success of shows like 'Balika Vadhu', 'Bidaai', reality shows and the TV strike.

And Balaji is not the only one realising this. Even shows that were doing well not so long ago like 'Babul Ka Aangan' will go off the air soon. The tastes of the audience seem to have evolved. People are looking for something solid and different…and the usual stuff has run its course. People are opening up to fresh faces and ideas. The audience seems to have finally come around to the importance of an effective storyline.

Looking back, Ekta has definitely made a huge contribution to the television industry that will never be forgotten. For the present however, one wonders if she will able to rise to those heights again. Can she evolve with the times and offer something different than anything she has come up with before? The sheen around an Ekta series is gone and it is time for introspection. Can the one-time 'K'ueen of soaps' resurrect her brand? Only time will tell…

Irrespective of how much you criticize her, condemn her and even hate her, you just cannot put her down! And even though some of her recent launches have not been successful, you cannot overlook the fact that this is the same woman who single-handedly revolutionized Indian Television Industry.

With Bandini (Dunno about the other launch, Kitni Mohabbat Hai...but apparently even that has been getting good reviews) Ekta has taken the first step towards reinventing herself, in terms of story, production values and performances. And even though NDTV Imagine does not have the kind of popularity that Star Plus enjoys, lets not forget that a start up channel like Colours outdid Star Plus only a few weeks after its launch!

If Ekta keeps up the standard with Bandini and shows a decent, honest story, Bandini just might become the channel driver for NDTV Imagine!

Soapie