Oh, for a mature Indian soap!

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Arun Minupuri

@sportsguy131

Inactive

Posted: 19 years ago

by Sevashree Mohapatra
Have you ever wondered why the popular serials fast-forward by twenty years? Or the main character of your favourite soap suddenly gets killed, only to be back (!) after few months? Or the most recent phenomenon - the glamorous makeover? These are the few techniques followed by the directors to save the dwindling fortunes of the serials.

The directors of the soaps are under constant pressure from the channels to maintain the interest of the audience. So they are left with these few selected options. One can see the desperation for sustaining the TRPs of these popular television soaps.

With so many channels and so many soaps, the pressure is tremendous. The popularity of these soaps determines the position of the channel. Star Plus rose to the top position after it introduced soaps like Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, Kahani Ghar Ghar Ki, Kasauti Zindagi Ki etc few years back. No doubt, they conquered the hearts of millions of Indians. Most of the soaps on television have been running for more than five years. Though they seem to be promising in the beginning, they lose their charm after few months.

At this juncture, it is usually felt that something needs to be done to maintain the TRP. So, the main character is killed to create some suspense and win the sympathy of the avid audience. Like TV's queen bee Ekta Kapoor's popular serials have done.

Few years back when Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi (Star Plus) was losing its viewers, Mihir was killed to retain the audience interest. Similarly, Kahani Ghar Ghar Ki (Star Plus), another popular telly soap killed the most wanted and adorable bahu of Indian viewers, Parvati. So also in Kasauti Zindagi Ki, Anurag Basu was murdered by his wife. The list goes on... But then all these characters are made to comeback after certain weeks to generate more curiosity.

Then there are flash fast forwards. Almost all the popular serials - Kyunki Saas Bhi Bahu Thi, Kahani Kahani Ghar Ghar Ki , Kasauti Zindagi Ki, Desh Main Nikala Hoga Chand, Kaahin Kissi Roz (all on Star Plus), Tum Bin Jaun Kahan (Zee Television) - were forwarded by twenty years. Though such fast forwarding hardly help the sagging luck of a soap, they also result in leading stars walking out refusing to do elderly roles.

Apart from few likes Smriti Malhotra Irani (Tulsi of Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi), Saakshi Tanvar (Parvati of Kahani Ghar Ghar Ki), Shweta Tiwari (Prerna of Kasauti Zindagi Ki), most of the young stars refuse to play oldies. Thus Amar Upadhyaya (Mihir of Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi), Nausheen Sardar Ali (Kkusum), Shweta Keswani (Desh Main Nikala Hoga Chand and Kahani Ghar Ghar Ki), Jividha (Tum Bin Jaun Kahan and Zameen Se Aasman Tak) deserted the soaps.

Recently soaps' characters are going for glamourous makeover. After much debate on Jassi, Sony has finally given her a glamorous look. And other simple stars are waiting too.

But the question arises: Do we really need such superficial serials, which lack 'substance'? When would Indian television graduate itself to be a mature and sensible entertaining medium? Why can't we have more KBCs, Indian Idols, Nukkads, Bharat - Ek Khoj, Surabhi?

But till that happens, the watcher of the Indian soap seems to be stuck with the numerous kahanis that dominate the airwaves, day and night. And yes there will be flash forwards, sudden aging, change of looks and wildly improbable twists and turns. Who cares for reality?