Inanity unlimited on Indian TV
from hindustantimes.com
Janhavi Samant
November 23, 2005
Nothing is as boring as a story that goes on well beyond its logical end. Irritation with particularly illogical twists in the story line of Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhie Thi, Kkusum, Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin or any popular soap is fairly common. Gone are the days of the 13 episode Doordarshan limits; serials these days are endless sagas of marital discord, extra-marital bliss, corporate and saas-bahu animosity. Just when the hero and heroine are all set to look 'happily ever after', along comes an ex-girlfriend or ex-wife, with a baby in tow. When you hear the villain is killed, his daughter arrives thirsting for revenge. And if that isn't enough, assuming everything's going well in the lives of the onscreen characters, the cast gets older by 20 years — just like that! But one thing's assured, under ideal circumstances these soaps are here to stay till eternity.
Take the example of Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin for instance. The serial was supposed to be a simple story about an ugly duckling falling in love with her 'prince charming' and then turning into a swan. Instead, it has turned into an epic of love, longing and retribution within the Gulmohur House.
And the sob story continues beyond home shores — case in point being The Bold and the Beautiful where by now almost every character seems to have slept with everyone.
So are channel honchos sentimental fans, who have grown too fond of their protagonists, to let them go? Or is it a case of milking a cash cow till the last drop?
"Whenever we feel that a story is dragging, we try to end a serial. The decision is however, based on viewer feedback, emails and response," says Ashwini Yardi, programming head, Zee TV. That's why when the channel got reports that Kareena Kareena was not working they decided to put a stop to it. "The minute we feel a story is heading nowhere and is totally out of character, we end it," she says.
Agrees Shailaja Kejriwal, programming head, Star India, "Usua-lly serials are ended if their plots come to a natural end or if the ratings start dipping and don't show any sign of rising."
That, of course, is what they all say. But what can possibly explain the sheer absurdity levels that television serials aspire to in their desire to stay on 'by hook or crook?' For instance, in Star Plus' now five-year-old soap Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhie Bahu Thi, it was bearable as long as the plotlines reverberated with the machinations of Payal, Tulsi and Savita. But subsequently Mandira entered getting lead actor Mihir entangled in an affair from the blue and then fathering a son in absentia. Next to follow was Tulsi's sudden cancer track, capped with an imagination-defying sudden recovery.
Almost five years old now, Kkusum's lead character has already married thrice and so has Kahin To Hoga's Kashish. Even after five years and with grown up children, Anurag and Prerana in Kasautii Zindagi Kay still appear undecided about sticking to their life partners. Simran has actually turned blind in Astitva – Ek Prem Kahani!
When the ratings are sailing smooth, channels do not really want to rock the boat. They'd rather keep introducing new tracks to the soap than end a serial, with high TRPs.
Admits Kejriwal, "Obviously outrageous twists do not work. It is indeed difficult to end a successful show. Non-fiction (reality show based plots) concepts start with a set climax, but a fiction show can go on as long as you want it to. If the ratings support it, one really has no reason to discontinue."
Recent news suggests that we won't have to cope with the twists and turns in Kkusum for long and after being pushed to the 10 p.m. slot, Jassi… too would eventually drop off the idiot box radar.
Or would it? Director Deeya Singh avers, "Hopefully never! A soap is supposed to evolve with time. And with an iconic character like Jassi, I have a new story to tell everyday." Well, like we told you, it is the same story, told all over again.
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