TV shows or 'serial' killer- Article

TV shows or 'serial' killer, its working

Tushar Patel - Televisionpoint.com | Mumbai
This time around, it's the cliched storylines that have the ministry sitting up and taking note. Minister of state for women and child development, Renuka Chowdhury, recently went on record asking serial makers to do away with cliched angles like dahej and the saas-bahu khit-pit saga. While production houses can now wrack their brains and come up with fresh storylines, some of the eternal cliches on Indian television are placed here.

Family Matters
It's of the family, by the family and for the family. What started as a 'K' characteristic, has conveniently found takers in almost all 'soap'y shows aired on prime time or otherwise. Kasamh Se, the czarina of soaps touched family nerve with Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii and Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. And then the Kasautii of zindagii was successfully carried on by Saath Phere, Sapna Babul Ka... Bidaai and Woh Rehne Waali Mehlon Ki. Even the latest shows to be aired on almost all channels, have their storylines firmly rooted in family values and ghar ki izzat. Guess this is their idea of grabbing eyeballs and ensuring high TRPs.

Daughters
The bahu betiyaans are the eternal sacrificial lambs. Even when not needed, this lot will don the saviour's avatar and solve every problem. Sometimes their job calls for investigation and the ladies could easily put Sherlock Holmes to shame. Be it Saloni, Tulsi, Parvati or Bani, their resumes can boast of successful unraveling of family mysteries. But in spite of all their discourse on nari shakti, these deviyaans don't always practise what they preach. For months on end they will bear with injustice and the royal ignore, and shed bucketfuls of glycerine tears. Jaise apni Sujata and Prachi (Kayamath).

The Outsiders
Who can be the best vamp other than the sasu ma and sister-in-law? If you don't believe us, you can knock on Sindoora's doors to find out what she's scheming next against Divya. After giving Bani sleepless nights, Jigyasa is cooling her heels till the time her competitor regains memory.

While the bahus are busy dealing with the monsters-in-law, the baharwalis are having a field day. There's no stopping a Mandira from encroaching on Tulsi's territory, so what if they are 75! Prachi too has her fair share of troubles with Ayesha. And Saloni's battle has recently ended with Bhabhi saas' jeeji.

Mad Angels
It's a bad, mad world out there. If one character goes Krazzy, how can sanity prevail for the others? Sagar set the trend with Chhotu from Kahaani... following suit. The latest to join the bandwagon are newly-married Sadhna's hubby dearest and Pari's new husband, Dr Manav. It's also amazing to see how sane people turn insane overnight. The mad angels on TV are here to stay.

Surgical Registrar
Replacements are no big deal these days. All you gotta do is give the lead character a facelift. Plastic surgeries have solved the dilemma of producers. They won't think twice before booting out the face of a popular character in case of a tiff. And if the most-seen character has grabbed a Bollywood deal, plastic surgery is the best way to welcome the new recruit. We need not cite examples for this, right, ok take Bani for an clue for time being?

Triple Play
The impact of a surprise element hits the viewer thrice and leaves them reeling under the shock. To say that the camera persons need a thorough course in camera angles is an understatement. Or else, how does one justify the fact that each soap has the same way of expressing surprise. Are they hiring the same cameraperson?

Sing A Song
From item numbers to filmi tracks as background score, serials tend to borrow heavily from Bollywood music. Every party has to have an item number. The lead characters invariably have a Bollywood song as their signature tune. Middle-aged Karan and Nandini, keep crooning Tere bin to each other while the other characters have the remaining Bollywood tracks to choose from.

This is just the tip of the iceberg. If production houses take into serious consideration the minister's remarks, we could probably have something better to be entertained with.

So are the media planners ready to place some of their eggs in these soap operas ?