2014 was quite an action-packed year for television. It was the year when Amitabh Bachchan made his TV fiction debut followed by Padmini Kolhapure and Sonali Bendre. Some actors like Bhagyashree and Sandhya Mridul returned to TV after several years. Finite series that was the mainstay of Doordarshan made a comeback. As far as content is concerned, it was a mixed bag. Even as stories got bolder, the ones ruling the charts continued to be the saas-bahu sagas. And, despite new launches, the old shows continued to be the channel-drivers. Thankfully, some of the shows that had crossed their sell-by dates were yanked. A low down on the happenings
Finite series: Thanks to Anil Kapoor's 24, an adaptation of the hit international show, primetime TV saw the advent of several finite series. Yudh, Pukar, Ajeeb Dastaan Hai Yeh, Everest, Ek Hasina Thi, Maharakshak Aryan and Laut Aao Trisha. While some were for the duration of 24 episodes, others have been planned for a six-month run. Then there's Zindagi that airs only finite Pakistani serials. Yudh, Pukar and Everest created a huge buzz, but haven't rated high on the ratings chart. And though the idea of finite shows has been welcomed by actors and producers, viewers don't seem to have warmed up to the concept.
Bolly stars debuting in serials: From Ada Sharma, Tulip Joshi, Sonali Bendre, Padmini Kolhpure, Seema Biswas to Sarika several Bollywood stars made their TV debuts this year. Amitabh Bachchan who has been hosting KBC also made his foray into acting in a TV show with Yudh. The 1920 star Ada is seen in Pukar, Tulip is playing a pilot in Airlines, Sonali is 'The Good Wife' in Ajeeb Dastaan Hai, Padmini was the other woman in Ek Nayee Pehchaan and Sarika debuted as the pehli biwi of Bachchan in Yudh. It's the concept of finite series that has beckoned Bolly stars, who otherwise find the daily soaps time-constraining. However, even their presence didn't succeed in luring viewers proving that TV is a different ball-game altogether.
Producers and directors too: Not only filmstars even movie producers and directors made a beeline to the small-screen. Abhinay Deo and Sanjay Leela Bhansali had set the ball rolling last year - Abhinay directed 24 and Sanjay made his debut as a TV producer with Saraswatichandra. This year had Soojit Sircar and Anurag Kashyap getting together for Yudh - Anurag started from TV but came back to direct a serial after a long gap.Ashutosh Gowariker who had acted in CID before he jumped to films is back producing Everest. Even Vipul Shah who went from TV to films returned to the small-screen with Pukar that he is producing. Anurag Basu, Nikhil Advani, and Rohit Dhawan have also been directing one-off episodes and short TV films. Akshay Kumar, who has been producing films made his debut as a TV producer with Jamai Raja.
Saas bahu sagas still reigning: Never mind if you dub them regressive, saas-bahu soaps are the ones on-top-of-the-chart. Saathiya, Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai, Sasural Simar Ka, even Diya Aur Baati Hum for that matter despite it being about a woman's ambition of becoming an IPS officer - all the serials are rooted in joint families. There may be exceptions like Kumkum Bhagya a complicated love story or a historical Jodha Akbar, but nothing gets the viewers hooked as much as the goings-on between a saas and a bahu. The ratings prove it.
Old is gold: No matter how many serials and concepts channels experiment with, it's their old shows that continue to get them the numbers. Balika Vadhu has been on air for seven years and still the numero uno on Colors, ditto Taarak Mehta Ka Oolta Chasmah on SAB TV and to its credit hasn't taken a single leap! Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai has been among the top five for six years now. Not that the channels didn't launch new shows, but they were axed faster than they were brought on air. Over 14 new shows including Beintehaa, Main Na Bhoolungi, Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya etc, launched with much-hype were terminated for lack of rating points within five-nine months.
Forbidden love: Homosexual relationships, incest and transgender love - subjects that were hitherto considered taboo on the small-screen took centre stage this year. Yudh showcased a lesbian relationship, an episode in Yeh Hai Aashiqui was about a guy falling in love with his friend's mother, Webbed had two guys finding solace in each other's arms and Laut Aao Trisha highlighted incest. Clearly, TV got bolder this year and ventured into forbidden territories.
Wraps-ups: Ram Kapoor and Sakshi Tanwar's love saga Bade Acche Laggte Hai that was dragging on endlessly came to an end this year. So did Madhubala after leaps, double roles and what not. Sushant Singh Rajput's debut TV show Pavitra Rishta too breathed its last but not before his beau Ankita Lokhande got to play a double role post some third or fourth leap. Devon Ke Dev Mahadev that catapulted Mohit Raina to overnight fame bid adieu this month leaving the telly god free to pursue a film career! The two-year-old Pyaar Ka Dard Hai Meetha Meetha, completed its run after unbelievable twists and turns. Another long-running show Uttaran that has been airing for six years and has exhausted its plots is thankfully on its last leg.
Comebacks: Many actors returned to TV after a gap. Bhagyashree who had started her acting career on TV with Kachchi Dhoop and was last seen in Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 3 is back with Laut Aao Trisha. Even Renuka Shahane, the reigning TV queen of one time had stayed away from fiction shows for over five years. She returned with a cameo in Mere Rang Mein Rangnewali. Achint Kaur who had taken a break from TV after Jhansi Ki Rani is now seen in Jamai Raja. Raj Babbar had played king Bharat in BR Chopra's Mahabharat in the late eighties. Thirty years later, he is back playing the father of three sons in Pukar. Kay Kay Menon who had done shows like Pradhanmantri came back to TV after a considerable gap with Yudh. Sandhya Mridul best remembered for Koshish Ek Asha nd has several serials to her credit returned to fiction shows after a gap of over a decade with Private Investigator.
Channel launches: Last but not the least, the year saw the launch of some new channels like Epic that airs costume dramas, Zindagi which has brought Pakistani serials to India and Sony Pal, yet another general entertainment channel, to name a few. However, serials on Pal are being yanked faster than they are launched as they are not garnering ratings. It's evident that sustaining in the cut-throat TV scenario is not easy, especially for new channels. As far as Zindagi is concerned it is airing serials that have already been seen in Pakistan but are new to the desi audience. Already two of their TV stars Fawad Khan and Imran Abbas have made their Bolly debuts and soon Mahira Khan of Humsafar fame is set to make hers with Shah Rukh Khan in Raees!
Anupamaa
