Posted:
The end of a beginning
DIPTI NAGPAUL-D'SOUZA
Posted: Oct 25, 2008 at 0302 hrs IST
As that titanic soap, Kyunki Saas bhi Kabhi bahu Thi, goes off air after eight politically-incorrect years, here's a list of other shows that need to follow suit
It's okay to cast a patronising glance when someone brings up the topic of the soap operas on Indian television, but if you say you don't know who Parvati and Tulsi are, you have to be lying through your teeth. Indian television changed forever when Balaji Television introduced to the audiences the ideal daughter-in-law through its twin shows: Kahani Ghar Ghar Kii and Kyunkii Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. Mothers-in-law sang their praises for daughters-in-law who toiled hard to exceed expectations. As Kyunki, following in the tracks of Kahanii, prepares to go off air by the year-end, it takes with it the end of an era, for better or worse. Says Rajesh Chadha, business head, BAG Films (known for another long-running show, Kumkum), "Kyunki and Kahanii paved way for others and in many ways opened the minds of the Indian audiences." The shows have seen their ups and downs in TRPs, and reinvented storylines by introducing elements of love, hatred, infidelity, vengeance and generation leaps into drawing rooms, coming close to the iconic Bold and the Beautiful. Kyunki is famously credited for the resurrecting characters. This was the result of the lead character on-screen Mihir's death, which was no less than a national tragedy. But over years, TRPs continued to dip and after having tried every trick, the shows are finally being pulled off air. While there is no dearth of shows that started with a good story but eventually lost the plot, a handful that have tried every trick to survive, need to bow out gracefully. Woh Rehne Wali Mehelon Ki (Sahara One) has been on air for over three years now and two generation leaps later, the producers, Rajshri Productions, refuse to give up. The TRPs have dipped but the producers still feel that it has a select audience. "Keeping with the values that Rajshri is associated with, our show has always been inspirational and steered clear from clichs like rape and kidnaps. Like our movies, this is a show that a family can watch together," justifies Kavita Barjatya. Kumkum - Ek Pyaara Sa Bandhan on Star Plus has been on air for over six years now. But Chadha feels that their USP remains Hussain Kuwajerwala and Juhi Parmar's love story. He accepts that while the show is facing a rough patch a 'reincarnation' of the lead character may just save Kumkum. In a country obsessed with fairness creams, Saat Phere on Zee TV, the longest-running show after Kyunki and Kumkum, struck a chord with millions by introducing a dusky girl as the protagonist Saloni, making Rajshree Thakur the next uncrowned queen of the industry after Smriti Irani and Sakshi Tanwar. But with Thakur's expected exit from the Saat Phere, many doubt the future of the show. Meanwhile, shows like Balika Vadhu have paved way for a new trend. As scriptwriter Gautam Hegde points out, "The latest trend is to make the soap high on the emotional quotient. Balika Vadhu and Sapna Baabul Ka…and Bidaai — the current TRP chart toppers-are free of the zoom effects." Could these shows mark the end of the high drama? Erm, not yet.
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