Reality rocks but soaps retain their lath

Reality rocks but soaps retain their lather


Posted online: Friday, December 29, 2006 at 0000 hours IST

2006 clearly belonged to reality TV. Whether it was Nach Baliye 2 or Jhalak Dikhla Jaa, viewers were perfectly in tune with the talent-hunts. But it's Sony's Bigg Boss that is the talk-of-the-town. Touted to be the mother of all soaps Big Boss is the ultimate in vouyerism and the viewers are loving it. The show in fact has opened new, albeit, scary dimensions to a reality show in India. The Indian viewer who had earlier rejected game-shows like Kamzor Kadi Kaun because it was impolite, arrogant and rude, is now uninhibitedly lapping up the bitchiness and nastiness of the Bigg Boss contestants. Though unlike the original version of Big Brother, the channel bosses are drawing the line when it comes to sex, one wouldn't be surprised if a couple of years down the line, the bar gets raised there too.
In a bid to counter reality television, many of the long-winding saas-bahu soaps spruced up their act. From Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, Kumkum to Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii and Woh Rehnewali Mehlon Ki, the serials promptly took a leap and got revamped. While Kyunki ... and Kahaani ... underwent a third generation leap, it was the first one for Kumkum and Woh Rehne .... According to the latest TRPs, Kahaani ... is soaring ahead with its new look. Even Woh Rehnewali ... continues to be the channel-driver on Sahara One.
Amidst the plethora of regressive soaps, there was a welcome respite in serials like Saat Phere, Betiyaan Apni Ya Paraya Dhan, Ghar Ki Lakshmi Betiyaan and Solhah Shingarr. While Saat ... brought out our obsession with fair skin and discrimation against dark complexion, both the Betiyaan soaps talk about how daughters are a boon and not the bane of a family. Solhah Shingarr deals with the sensitive subject of widow remarriage.
STAR Plus created a sensation when it announced the return of KBC with a new host. Shahenshah Amitabh Bachchan was replaced by badshah Shah Rukh Khan. For the superstar, who began his career on the small-screen it is like coming a full circle.
To sum up, while reality TV got a push this year with talent-hunts doing well in the second season and new ones being introduced, family dramas and soaps continue to reign. Reality shows are a means to lure new viewers to the channel who are later served with the regular stable of soaps... STAR PLUS
For the sixth consecutive year, STAR Plus dominates television viewing across every slot and Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi and Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii rule the charts. Both the soaps had a generation leap and the latter is doing better in its new avataar. The new look Parvati has been welcomed by the viewers. While their weekend soap Baa Bahoo Aur Baby saw a steady increase in viewership, the channel also launched a grand historical Prithviraj Chauhan and a mythological Sai Baba. Ek Chabi Hai Pados Mein, a throwback to the yesteryear Nukkad was launched towards the year-end. To woo kids, the channel introduced two shows Antariksh, a sci-fi version of Ramayan and Lucky about a conman who is enrolled to save the world from evil. The channel also launched two new prime time shows, Virasat, a lavish serial produced by BR Films, and Balaji replaced Kavyanjali with Karam Apna Apna. SONY
In the earlier part of the year Indian Idol 2 reached its crescendo as the show was moving towards the finale. The show, however, did not have as high TRPs as season 1. Deal Ya No Deal — the easiest winning game show had South superstar Madhavan returning to TV as the host. Yet, the show failed to excite the viewer and within two months, Maddy quit, citing date problems. Sony's favourite celebrity Mandira Bedi took over and managed to bring viewers with her liveliness and inimitable style. With the cricket season, she got busy with Extra Innings and Sujal aka Rajeev Khandelwal made a dashing debut as an anchor. Though he created a major flutter, the viewers didn't think it was a 'big' deal and the show had to be wound up. The channel relaunched its afternoon band with original programming and introduced two shows Rishton Ki Dor and Kabhi To Nazar Milao. However, the former failed to weave a dor on its target audience - women and is slated to go off the air soon. As for Kabhi ..., it went off the air within a couple of months of its launch. Another primetime show that failed to deliver the TRPs and was taken off air was Aisa Des Hai Mera, the story of a young Indian girl born and brought up in London who comes to India in search of her roots. The other daily soap Thodi Khushi Thode Gham that was launched alongwith Aisa Des Hai Mera, is still on. Shukra Hai Shukravaar Hai had the desi Fear Factor giving the thrills and chills to the viewers. TV celebrities like Narayani Shastri, Sai Deodhar, Shweta Salve, Kushal Punjabi and Vikas Sethi participate in the daring series. Boogie Woogie, the pioneering dance talent-hunt show that had been one of the channel-drivers on Sony for nine years made a comeback with a grander set and prize money. A gossip magazine Kandy Floss on the goings-on in the TV industry was made by none other than the queen of soaps Ekta Kapoor. The show started with a bang but tapered out. Kaajjal - Sabbki Aankhon Mein Basi, a primetime daily soap replaced Kaisa Yeh Pyaar Hai and Man Mein Hai Vishwaas, the reality-based mythological show anchored by Nitish Krishna Bharadwaj was launched.

Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa, the adaptation of the popular Dancing With The Stars had TV, sports and film celebrities who had no formal training in dancing shaking a leg with professional choreographers.

But the show that has made Sony the talk of the town is Bigg Boss, the Indian adaptation of the popular international format Big Brother. Since the launch, there has been a wild card entry, where Rakhi Sawant, who was evicted, got an opportunity to be back due to popular demand.Anuj Saxena's maiden production Kulvaddhu was the last show launched by the channel this year.

ZEE
The channel that surprised many with its turnabout was Zee which climbed to the No 2 position. With a competitive mix of programming and marketing, the channel surged ahead. New launches like Jab Love Hua had a refreshing love story between a city-bred girl and a country bumpkin which was a welcome change from the regular soaps. Ghar Ki Laxmi Betiyaan which depicts that daughters are a boon and not the bane of a family, initially had the women's organisations up in arms because of some hoardings. But once the serial went on air, it has been earning kudos and TRPs for its socially-relevant message. Kasamh Se, the saga of three sisters and their loves had a good start and soon the protagonists Bani and Jai Walia became household names. But it was Saat Phere with its unusual and sensitive theme that upped the Zee stocks. Discriminated for her dark complexion, Saat Phere's Saloni had viewers sympathising with her struggle and empathising with her triumph. The channel touched a new high as far as reality television is concerned, with Sa Re Ga Ma Pa, Ek Main Aur Ek Tu and Li'l Champs, the finale of which was held at an outdoor stadium and telecast live. The other new entrants on the channels this year include Dulhan Banoo Mein Teri, Ravana and Jeena Isi Ka Naam Hai, (this time round with TV celebrities) Shabaash India and Nerolac Rang Jama De. Two shows that were launched with a lot of hype but didn't live upto itheir expectations were Kam Ya Zyada a gameshow, hosted by Manoj Bajpai and Johnny Ala Re which had comedy king Johnny Lever making his TV debut. Both have gone off the air. STAR ONE
STAR One this year launched many soaps and family dramas starting with Kya Hoga Nimmo Ka. Two other shows Saathi Re and Betiyaan Apni Ya Paraya Dhan were launched simultaneously. The popular sitcom Office Office which was the channel driver for SAB was snapped up by STAR and aired as Naya Office Office with a all-new series. Another comedy launched this year was Kadvee Khattee Meethi which is an extension of Tu Tu Main Main. A licensed celebrity gameshow Heartbeat that had TV stars participating in it went on and off the air within a couple of months. But it was the second season of The Great Indian Laughter Challenge and Nach Baliye that continued to be the channel-drivers and high TRP-generating shows of the channel. SAHARA ONE
Sahara One this year did not venture into any reality shows but stuck to its regular soaps and serials. While Woh Rehnewali Mehlon Ki which was revamped this year with a new storyline continues to be its channel-driver, among the new launches Solhah Shingarr which is about widow remarriage has got a very good response in a short time. The other shows launched this year include Sati ...Satya Ki Shakti, Kuch Apne Kuch Paraye, Zaara - Pyar Ki Saugat and Ghar Ek Sapna as well as Sunoo ...Har Dill Kuchh Kehtaa Hai which went off the air within a couple of months. The channel tried to recapture the magic of old serials like Buniyaad and Fauji. Unfortunately Buniyaad despite a hyped launch, couldn't lure the gen X to its saga of partition.

Trying to cash in on the success of its game show Dial One Aur Jeeto, the channel launched Dial One Ladies First but it couldn't sustain. The other two shows which went on and off air within a short time were NG Takes and Sirf Ek Minute.