Posted:
Here's my questionnaire...
Can you tell us a bit about yourself (your name will not be disclosed/you can give us another name) - how old you are, whether you work or study, etc? [Background on interviewees helps us flesh out the story a little more]. And do you consider yourself one of the most passionate C.I.D fans?
My name is...😛
Yes, I am a passionate fan of CID and have huge collection of old episodes on my computer which I watch once in a while just for the thrill of if. I must also sadly admit that the quality of episodes in the last 3-4 years has deteriorated, so my interest is waning.
I and many fans are still trying to be positive and hoping that something will improve and the channel and the creatives will understand what the audience wants.
2. Have you been watching C.I.D from the very beginning, i.e. since 1997? If so, what drew you to the show? Do you think it's the best TV series or not, and why?
Yes, I've been watching CID from 1998(that's when it started). I think I started watching it from the 3rd or 4th episode. I happened to notice it on Sony when I was channel surfing. I was a fan of Ashutosh Gowarikar who played Insp Viren in the early episodes. I saw him playing a cop and I am a fan of crime thrillers, so I started watching CID.
Do I think it's the best show? If I consider the early episodes, definitely YES. Till about 2007 the episodes were fantastic Then for some reason, the writers lost the plot. Investigation and thrill gave way to unwanted over-the-top drama and now it's like any other show on TV. The core team of ACP Pradyuman, Abhijeet, Daya, Dr Salunkhe and Fredricks who have been part of the show from the start are the sole reason I switch on the TV at 10 PM on weekends even now.
3. What your earliest memory of C.I.D? Was it something you watched with family or friends, and what was your first impression?
I used to watch CID all alone as I am an only child. :-) My parents don't watch any Hindi shows. My friends used to watch it and we had discussions in college. My earliest memory was watching Viren and ACP investigate a murder in a hotel.
4. Who are your favourite (and least favourite) characters on C.I.D., and why?
This is very tough. I can't single out one. But over the years, my favourite and sole reason for watching the show are Abhijeet and Daya. Good looking, tough cops who are portrayed as great friends on TV, sans ego and fights which are shown on every other show.
My least favourite - Sorry, but these days I don't like DCP Chitroley. He appeared first in the Faceoff series where I actually liked him. But of late he's boring and annoying. I wish Mr BP Singh re-evaluates the character he's playing.
Fan fiction-
5. For how long have you been writing fan fiction for C.I.D, and how many stories have you written till date?
Maybe about 20. Lost count! :-) It includes investigative, funny and short stories. I started in 2010 when I first joined CID forum. I read a few stories by Sunny and Suhaani and found them better than what they were showing on screen, so I decided to try my hand at it. I was too shy, so decided to use another name and when the response was good I revealed myself.
6. What is your approach - do you have an idea first in mind which you flesh out later, or do you write on the spot, as the ideas and dialogues come to you? Please run us through your process.
I have an idea in mind first, then think about how I would like to see it in an episode. I get the sequence of scenes in my head and then write out the dialogues and exact flow.
7. Of all the stories you've written, which is the one closest to your heart, and why? Also, which was the most difficult to write?
The closest to my heart is my first ever story - the case of the hidden diamonds. The most difficult was for a contest on the forum where Abhijeet and Daya were supposed to be kidnapped. I wanted to write something out of the box and there were 16 participants, so I had a tough time thinking of something which no one else would...
This is the link to the contest
Mine is story no 6 here.
8. On average, how much time do you devote to writing C.I.D fan fiction?
Very less now as I am busy with office work. I used to write one story a month but now I write only once in 6 months when an idea pops up in my head or someone on the forum suggests a plot. I take about 15 days to write...I spend about an hour a day writing. The rest of the time I spend thinking about what to write.
9. What is the strangest, most suspenseful, or memorable C.I.D fan story you've read - whether on IF or elsewhere?
This is one of the most memorable stories I've read.
The writer has captured the emotions perfectly. This is missing on the show of late. Everything on the show is over-the-top. This story shows restraint in showing emotions and that's what I love about this story
About the show-
10. Do you have a favourite episode? And is there anything you would like producers B.P. Singh and Pradeep Uppoor to change about C.I.D?
My list of favourites
1. Case of the injured witness (one of the best thrillers ever)
2. Case of the father's revenge.(another thriller)
3. CAse of the stolen dynamite (entry of abhijeet and very innovative way of solving the case)
4. Missing Bullet (officer in trouble and perfectly solved, sans emotional drama)
5. Case of the 4 Rinas (wonderful acting by Insp Asha)
6. Man on the bus (for the story and lovely portrayal of friendship)
The above are all pre-2006
Post 2006 there are very few
1. Khoon ki holi (2010) nice thrilling one
2. Behrupiya (Daya killed, awesome acting by everyone)
I have lots of suggestions for the producers.
1. Get some good writers to write genuine mysteries
2. Avoid the so-called funny scenes involving Pankaj , Fredddie and Chitroley. They are an eyesore
3. Friendship is best expressed subtly, not in-the-face, loud dosti proclamations. They make us cringe.
4. Show the core team investigating together throughout the episode
5. Show romance but not flirting or unwanted drama. The cops can have girlfriends but keep them out of the main show.
6. Avoid showing bhoot and aatma related stories on CID. they are better suited for Aahat. These stories annoy us to no end.
7. Avoid showing the YSPT (yeh-sab-plan-tha) type stories where one cop is shown dead and then he wakes up saying it was a plan.
Since you were/are active on the fan fiction thread, is there friendly competition among fan fic writers - like between Daya-Shreya shippers vs Abhijeet-Tarika shippers, etc?
There is really not much on Daya-Shreya and Abhijeet-Tarika stuff.
There are stories with Abhijeet and Daya having girlfriends outside CID team. Somehow the Daya Shreya track was totally messed up. They didn't look like a nice pair on screen. I wonder if the actors themselves were uncomfortable with it.
Abhijeet -Tarika hasn't progressed beyond flirting in the lad and many of us now find it annoying. Therefore some writers try to bring GFs for them from outside.
Check these, where Abhijeet's old girlfriend is mentioned, not Tarika.
and
What's the most outlandish C.I.D fan fiction you've ever come across? :)
Mr Bean and CID. This was crazy!
I noticed many C.I.D. fan fic writers are women... is this something you've observed too, during your time on IF?
Yes, there's one guy Demonstar, The rest of them are all women. I have noticed that 90% of the forum members are women. Not sure why. :-)
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
