TOI: Love is in the air- KTLK

Romantic tracks in prime time TV shows follow simple formulae to win their audiences

For all those of you who thought telly shows aired on prime time/afternoon/early evening bands without their share of cliche and predictable scenes take a close look at your soapbox again. B-Town's not the only component of the Entertainment industry to follow successful formulas to wow the audiences. The big T is doing much the same. Think soap sagas airing on entertainment channels and the only thing that is different in the various shows is the star cast. Every romantic track in almost all prime time shows hinge on set situations.

Love me, love my arrogance : Of course it's a given. The male protagonist has to be singularly rich, arrogant to the point of being rude to the good girl next door who's the heroine, neatly draped in demure salwar kameezes and a neatly combed plait (that might be out of fashion outside schools, but in serials you aren't supposed to think logically), dripping machismo and able to beat the baddies physically, make smart biz deals and flaunt posterboy goodlooks. Every screen hottie falls in this league - Arnav Singh Raizada ( Barun Sobti) of Iss Pyar Ko Kya Naam Doon, Shiv ( Siddharth Shukla) of Balika Vadhu, Virat Vadehra ( Kushal Tandon) of Ek Hazaaron Mein Meri Behna Hai, to the newly minted Mr Rudelike RK ( Vivian D'sena) ofMadhubala, Ek Ishq Ek Junoon, etc.

Let's fall in love: Falling in love comes handy to the nubile beauties of the various shows. Either their mile long dupattas fly out of control and safely land on the hero's face ( IPKKD, Punar Vivaah, Pyaar Ka Dard Hai..., Humse Hai Life, Suvreen Guggal Topper of The Year, etc) or they trip over imaginary hurdles (figuratively speaking) and have the hero's strong arms to catch them right on time. Telly showmakers need to send a quick thanks to Raj Kapoor for having show the perfect way to hold a girl (his famous shot of Nargis in one arm is now a banner for RK films)! And then there are those intense eye-locks between the to-be/romantic leads which is an indication that love could be in the air.

Hate you, like I love you: The main leads of any soap can't afford to fall in love at first sight. They've got to battle it out, first verbally, then through a host of dramatic situations before they can have a dramatic confession scene. No romantic confession is without drama. In Diya Aur Baati Hum, Suraj (played by Anas Rashid) pours out his Heart when he thinks he's about to lose his wife Sandhya (Deepika Singh). In the now off air Dill Mill Gayye, Dr Riddhima (played by Shilpa Anand) confesses her love for Dr Armaan Mallik (played by Karan Singh Grover) after he's met with a serious accident.

On Bollywood song : B-Town comes to the rescue when it comes to romance in daily soaps. If it's an intimate love scene, it's got to be Baahon Ke Darmiyanfrom Khamoshi The Musical or Kaisa Ye Ishq Haifrom Jodhaa Akbar (Bade Achche Laggte Hai) or if the scene's a very cute and mushy one, then, Chand Chupa Badal Meinfrom Hum Dil De Chuke Sanamor Dil Kyun Merafrom Kites (Miley Jab Hum Tum). A romantic rain song would either be Rajneeti's Bheegi Si Bhaagi Si( Dill Mill Gayye) or Dekho Nafrom Fanaa (Byaah Hamari Bahu Ka) and a dance sequence between the romantic leads could either be Salaam-e-Ishqfrom Salaam-e-Ishq, or Teri Meri Prem Kahani( Iss Pyar Ko Kya Naam Doon)

The third angle : Life and love can't be perfect. It's got to have its rollercoaster moments. And what better way to do it, than to introduce a glam and gorgeous girl (who could be the hero's past love, or simply a work colleague) when everything seems smooth in the lives of the principal protagonists and let the fun begin ( Saath Nibhana Saathiya, Kya Hua Tera Vada, Na Bole Tum Na Maine Kuch Kaha, Kuch Toh Log Kahenge). The wife/girl friend will need to outsmart the other girl and win her love back after some high voltage, tearjerking moments.

Happily ever afters come in a Daily Show only intermittently, because the picture needs to be incomplete to keep the audience glued. Like in real life, even on soaps, the sunshine and happy moments are short-lived, so that there's enough spice, drama and romance to keep the show high on the TRP-meter and extend its life span on the small screen!