Dear Mr. Rajan Shahi,
Recently while googling about KTLK, I came across to one of your interviews in which you mentioned that there is a lot of crap on the TV. If I had read the interview when I started watching KTLK, I would have thought that both you and I are on the same page in our understanding of what constitutes "crap" but now that I'm writing this open letter to you out of sheer frustration (NO, it's not about MB leaving the show), I'm no longer sure if we subscribe to same definition of "crap". I trust you were not referring to any specific genre e.g. "Saas-Bahu" as crap but alluding to the sub-par content we see across the board on TV. In later case, I hope that you are aware of the "crap" you are delivering of lately to the fans of KTLK. If not then I must admit that you're showing the Ostrich Syndrome.
I totally get it that you are in the entertainment business and no one wants to run a loss generating enterprise. I also understand that TRP is the barometer that dictates the bottom line in entertainment industry but then you come to the terms with the reality and work within its parameter instead of pretending that you don't care about the system and that you are not affected by it i.e. I am different. What I have seen so far is that at the first sign of trouble, you turn to "crap" for your rescue so let me tell you, you are not different.
After excruciatingly watching KTLK since the end of December (sure there were some episodes that raised our hope but they were few and far in between), I'm struggling to understand (a) if you've lost the control of this production or (b) if you've succumbed to the pressure and churning out another run of the mill product while acting to be different. If later is the case then it's a sorry state of the affairs for you and for KTLK. After KTLK experience, I now have more appreciation for producers, directors, and creative teams of "Saas-Bahu" serials because at least they don't have any illusions about their products. They know their target audience and they don't take high road claiming that they are creating something different or exclusive. They create content that their audience expects from them and they honestly believe in what they are delivering. In your case, I'm no longer sure what you truly believe in.
If you treat your serials as sheer business adventures then l think business analogy is appropriate here. Any entrepreneur (or established business person for that matter) before starting a new business or launching a new product, conduct marketing research to understand features & functions of potential business/product, it's demand and target customer group(s). Once this information is available then s/he sets realistic business goals, formulates strategies, and implements operational processes accordingly. In your case, I assume that you knew what type of series you are producing when you took up the subject like KTLK i.e. it's not for the masses and you are not going after regular "saas-bahu" serials audience. You need to understand that you can't create a product that everyone likes. You find your niche audience and go after them for the success by giving them what meets their expectations and needs. Before launch of iPod, iPhone etc, Mac computer users were exclusive and loyal customers for Apple. If Mac was not adopted by masses then it didn't mean that Steve Jobs went crazy and started adding unnecessary and distracting bells & whistles to Mac to make it as widely adopted as Windows based machines (though I'm sure he might have secretly hoped for the same success). Instead he introduced different products for masses and made Apple the most valuable company on Earth. Similarly if KTLK was meant for different audience (whatever you want to call this group e.g. mature, educated, urban etc etc)) and didn't get the desired TRP then it doesn't mean that you start adding unwanted characters, absurd situations, illogical sequences etc to attract "Saas-Bahu" audience. Why degrade such a wonderful lover story into such complete mess. If you are not getting expected results or if channel / advertisers are not behind it then please do what a good businessman does i.e. cut your losses and wind it up gracefully. In business world, it's called exit strategy and every successful business person has one before embarking on a new venture.
I've also read that you've received an award for KTLK as most talked about series. I sincerely wish that you are aware of what fans are talking about KTLK. If not then please take some time out of your busy schedule and browse through the universe of blogospheres, forums, social sites etc and you will find that discussions about KTLK are more about blatant use of body doubles, lead pairs missing in the single frames, illogical/absurd situations and story lines, ever changing & unrealistic characterizations of key roles etc etc. I must say though that you've made "body double" a buzz word / TV serial audience lingo.
In conclusion, I strongly urge you Rajanji that as a head honcho, please take control of KTLK production. The CEO has sole accountability for the success or failure of an enterprise. S/he can not finger point to anyone else in the organization thus shunning his/her responsibilities . If you are not able to resolve any internal conflicts or improve the quality of all aspects of this production then please come up with a logical conclusion and shut this "crap" ASAP. We will be eternally grateful to you for not messing this serial anymore. Please walk the talk.
Best Regards
Former ardent fan of KTLK
PS:
# Kamleshji, I had very high expectations that you would take this beautiful story to another level where Dhoop Kinare left off but I'm sorry to say that what we are enduring lately has led me to believe either you are going through the temporary phase called "Writer's block" or you have succumbed to TRP trap or you've reached to the point in your career where even this kind of writing is giving you creative satisfaction. I hope it's the first one and soon you will overcome it.
# Mandar Devasthaliji, I have not seen your other work so it's not fair on my part to comment on your potential as a director but after watching episodes from last couple of month or so, I can at least summarize that directing a complex love story is not your forte.
PSS:
I'll try to post this letter on a few sites but I don't know if this piece is ever gonna make it to you Rajanji. I guess this writing is my attempt for cathartic experience similar to what folks go through at the demise of something they love. You cry, you go through the rituals, you remember good times, you make peace with yourself and then move on.
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Adding a good comment posted by a fellow fan in response to my open letter on other forum;
All the guilty parties you've mentioned above, I would add actors to that list too. In fact, they are critical in maintaining the integrity of characters they are portraying. When an actor plays a certain role during the extended period of time then s/he is expected to understand all the traits of that character and therefore when deviation from personality occurs, then s/he needs to get more involved in creative aspects and should discuss with writers and directors to ensure consistency.
In KTLK, we have seen inconsistencies happening again and again as if all the characters have multiple personalities i.e. how many times we have felt for examples that Ashutosh and Nidhi are two totally different people Its the same story with others too). Their behaviors are so unpredictable that I fail to recognize or relate to them. I understand that a person my react to certain incidents or circumstances differently but their inherent traits would still be the same. When you watch a serial for a long time, you start identifying with characteristics of the characters and you expect them to behave in a certain way and when you see them acting differently, that is when it all start frustrating.
I understand that they are just actors and they are enacting the scene or parroting dialogs written by directors/CVs but if they see the deviation then they need to talk to producer/director/writers and insist consistency.
Kumkum Bhagya
