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| The blame game (TOI Photo) |
With TV shows having no more title songs, serials seem to overlap with each other. But isn't this upsetting for those who work behind the scenes?
From the romantically rendered Yeh nazdeekiyan to family number for the casting song of Kahani Ghar Ghar Ki to a hip-shaking track for Nach Baliye , Indian television has heard it all.
And audience has rocked with them too. But with channels having done away with this musical part of the show, that were once regarded as its identifying factor, wonder if they have not also sidelined the show's credits that earlier used to roll as a part of the title song. Well, now with credits given space while the recap of the show is on, BT finds out how fair is the move?
BLAME GAME?
"But it's not our fault. The earlier format of beautiful title songs with the cast names rolling was no doubt impressive. But unlike Doordarshan, we don't own the shows on these private channels. So while we give channels the whole package along with the title songs, credits, the serial, etc, it's entirely the channels' call as to how they present it," states TV serial and film director Ravi Chopra.
But with the credits now shown during the recap time, wonder if technicians are getting their due? "Undoubtedly not. For, while the recap is on, people are more interested in watching the show than notice credits. But this format is just to ensure that viewers are straight led into another serial without giving them time to switch channels," he adds.
Agrees Nivedita Basu, creative director of a production house, "See, these are all channel driven commercial calls to maintain maximum viewership. But it's sad that credits go almost waste in the process. While actors of the show get their share of popularity, it's the technicians and other crew members who miss out on their share of recognition. As we have no say in the channel's decision, so we can't do anything but make the show more interesting content wise," she explains.
BUSINESS IS BUSINESS
"There's no way any channel would allow a show to go on air without giving proper credits to the people who are behind the show. It's just a change in format. See, we have roughly just 22 minutes of air time for a serial. In the case of a more popular serial , story time gets even lesser because of the number of commercials booked in between.
Therefore, songs can always be dropped in favour of something that's more important - the story. I agree, we've had hit title/casting songs across television, but they are glamourous elements and are better restricted to films unless the song is so good that it adds to the show's popularity," clarifies Ashish Kaul, VP of a channel.
"But this is an accepted format all across the world, except for those iconic English serials like Friends and more, whose songs are as popular as the show itself. We can't possibly accommodate everything because of the time constraint," states Prem Kamath, VP, Marketing and Communication of a channel . Time management, is it? "Of course. And as far as the promotion of the show by its song is concerned, TV has derived different mediums. The shows may not have a casting song but the show song otherwise is made to play all along the serial. In short, it's just the casting track that's missing from shows, there's no loss of music for sure," he further adds.
RECOGNISE US, PLEASE!
"Who said it's just the technicians' loss. We actors are suffering too," says TV actor Sai Deodhar. And how? "The title songs were also about credits that played alongside. But now, with credits running into the story, who cares to even notice them? Besides, we actors are more known by our screen names. Normally audience doesn't even know our real names. So it's not just the technicians but we are taking the brunt of this format as well," adds she.
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