Kkusum - a success story gone sour?

This is a show that started with a bang nearly five years ago...but is ending with a whimper! It was the show that was the channel driver for Sony for quite some time, but after many a change and special appearances, Kkusum is making an unceremonious exit after 1001 episodes on 30 November, even as its Balaji siblings continue to prosper on other channels.

Kkusum had intersting twists and turns that initially had the audiences glued to the telly, but after Nausheen's exit, it was a matter of time while TRPs plunged. Others were roped in to play the lead, but none of them could get the sentiments of the aam ladki in perspective.

Did reality TV kill Kkusum?

But frankly, the problems arose also because Sony started experimenting with different genres and formats that proved very successful -- Indian Idol, Jassi Jaisi..., Fame Gurukul, CID Special Bureau and Kaisa Ye Pyar Hai. Kkusum's household problems seemed less of an attraction for the junta, who were being intoduced to the excitement of reality TV. Sony cannot be blamed for not trying. Known to pull out shows if they didn't work well ( the Pallavi Joshi starrer, Kehna Hai Kuch Mujhko, Kahaani Teri Meri, Batliwalla House No.43, Meri Biwi Jasoos to name a few), Sony has sustained with Kkusum despite falling TRPs.

This is what some of the cast have to say about their experience in Kkusum

Some Kkusum factfile that perhaps killed the show eventually:

The most married man on telly: Abhay (Anuj Saxena) was married four times in the show plus remarried Kkusum twice. Abhay's leading lady kept changing- Nausheen, Manasi Joshi Roy, Shweta Kawatra, Narayani Shastri, Poonam Narula making him the most married man on TV.

Changes in main lead:
Nausheen opted out post leap of 18 years not willing to play mother to Aashka Goradia (Kumud). The title role of Kkusum was offered to many but finally Manasi Joshi replaced Nausheen and then Manasi was replaced by Shilpa Saklani.

Change in concept:
Kkusum was turned into a thriller, with the induction of Akashdeep 'Ansh' Saigal to keep the story going.

Battle ground for stars?
The serial at one point of time became a battle ground of stars with a clutter of stars - Anuj Saxena, Manasi Joshi Roy, Narayani Shastri, Aakashdeep Sehegal, Mauli Ganguly and Aashka Goradia.

Nausheen's comeback thwarted: Nausheen was making a comeback as Kkusum but the buzz is that Star Plus didn't allow her because of the contract commitment.

The lead quits...again!
Abhay Saxena quit recently...after a long deliberation!