Posted:
Guys,
In the end, whether Barun Sobti leaves the show or not, the fans have been treated shabbily. The reason? Neither Star Plus, nor 4 Lions, or for that matter, Barun Sobti have fully grasped the power of the internet.
I think this serial is unique in that it has drawn a huge audience outside of India. Even within India, the audience is largely youth and urban. This audience is very tech-savvy and wired constantly to the internet. They use social networking media to meet, express their views, exchange fan fiction and what not.
This has not been comprehended by any of the stakeholders. They have stumbled upon a marvellous fan-base but have not been able from day 1 to foster the community or respond to their requests. Witness how 4 Lions has mishandled every "PR" attempt. Witness how Star pulled episode videos from Youtube. Barun Sobti himself is accessible nowhere online, we only get glimpses of him on telly talk shows.
This is their loss. They are losing fans by the minute as they fail to issue clarifications.
For us fans, it is a lesson learnt the hard way. The objects of our adoration are just not ready to deal with us in our sphere. For my part, I will be wary before getting myself hooked on any other Indian serial. It's a waste of my time and energy.
That said, my best wishes to Barun, whether he leaves or stays. He is a great actor and will go a long way. I just wish he realized his power over his fans and treated us better though.
Cricket
Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai
Bigg Boss 19
Anupamaa
Bollywood
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