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Granny tales
SARAH SALVADORE , TNN 16 November 2009, 12:00am IST| Discuss | Bookmark/Share | Save | Text Size: | | | |
The days of telly moms-in-law seem numbered. There was a time when the on-screen saas didn't leave any stone unturned to create havoc in the
lives of the dutiful bahus.
Now, the quintessential tormentor of the daughter-in-law has taken a backseat as another family member has taken over the mantle 'tormentor-in-chief'. It's time to say hello to the evil daadis/naanis.
A look at the current crop of popular shows on TV will prove that the mothers-in-law have been reduced to playing submissive and crying women. In the absence of a vampish saas, the slot has been successfully filled by the conniving daadi. Uttaran has Pratima Kazmi playing the mean grandmom, Meghna Malik's the mean Ammaji in Na Ana Is Des Mere Laado, while Naaniji in Sapna Babul Ka... Bidaai is causing roadblocks in Alekh's successful treatment by shattering his confidence, Surekha Sikri is the much-feared daadisa, and Amma in Chhoti Bahu ensures that she's making Radhika's life miserable. It's the daadi show all the way.
Breaking away from the traditional and lovable portrayal of grandmothers in the shows, soapmakers have chalked out a different character-route for the matriarch of the family. "When making a show, a negative character is a must for the story to go forward. Either we get the character from outside or from within the family. In Balika Vadhu we have given Daadisa's character shades of grey to keep the story going," says producer Sunjoy Waddhwa on being quizzed about the new trend.
The makers also believe that an external force bringing about negativity in family dramas don't go down well with the audience. "It's a family drama. Everything that happens should be within the house, even if it's a person spreading bad vibes. And honestly, people are tired of watching the same saas-bahu struggles," opines actor Sara Khan. No wonder then that these shows are enjoying a successful stay at the TRP charts. Balika Vadhu raked in a TRP of 4.19, while Bidaai followed close with 4.08. Uttaran averaged a 4.09, while Chhoti Bahu stands at 3.1.
Production houses insist that the portrayal of the daadi/naani as the negative character is not just for the sake of 'change'. "If one observes the so-called negative characters, he/she will notice that they are not completely negative. The grandmother is the matriarch of the family and rules with an iron hand. It's natural for humans to err and her character is very human and real," explains Waddhwa.
"In urban families, which are basically nuclear, we think these characters are negative because we don't live under such restrictions and fear. But rural families are bound by restriction, culture and tradition and such characters do exist," he adds. Producer Rajan Shahi too shares the same opinion. "In a traditional set-up there are a lot of restrictions. Those who impose these restrictions are viewed as people with negative characters. But that's not true. One needs to understand the reasons behind it as well," explains Shahi.
So while traditional family dramas are being lapped up by tellybuffs, let the grannies bring in the TRP.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tv-/Granny-tales/articleshow/5232904.cms
Surekha Sikri in Balika Vadhu |
Now, the quintessential tormentor of the daughter-in-law has taken a backseat as another family member has taken over the mantle 'tormentor-in-chief'. It's time to say hello to the evil daadis/naanis.
A look at the current crop of popular shows on TV will prove that the mothers-in-law have been reduced to playing submissive and crying women. In the absence of a vampish saas, the slot has been successfully filled by the conniving daadi. Uttaran has Pratima Kazmi playing the mean grandmom, Meghna Malik's the mean Ammaji in Na Ana Is Des Mere Laado, while Naaniji in Sapna Babul Ka... Bidaai is causing roadblocks in Alekh's successful treatment by shattering his confidence, Surekha Sikri is the much-feared daadisa, and Amma in Chhoti Bahu ensures that she's making Radhika's life miserable. It's the daadi show all the way.
Breaking away from the traditional and lovable portrayal of grandmothers in the shows, soapmakers have chalked out a different character-route for the matriarch of the family. "When making a show, a negative character is a must for the story to go forward. Either we get the character from outside or from within the family. In Balika Vadhu we have given Daadisa's character shades of grey to keep the story going," says producer Sunjoy Waddhwa on being quizzed about the new trend.
The makers also believe that an external force bringing about negativity in family dramas don't go down well with the audience. "It's a family drama. Everything that happens should be within the house, even if it's a person spreading bad vibes. And honestly, people are tired of watching the same saas-bahu struggles," opines actor Sara Khan. No wonder then that these shows are enjoying a successful stay at the TRP charts. Balika Vadhu raked in a TRP of 4.19, while Bidaai followed close with 4.08. Uttaran averaged a 4.09, while Chhoti Bahu stands at 3.1.
Production houses insist that the portrayal of the daadi/naani as the negative character is not just for the sake of 'change'. "If one observes the so-called negative characters, he/she will notice that they are not completely negative. The grandmother is the matriarch of the family and rules with an iron hand. It's natural for humans to err and her character is very human and real," explains Waddhwa.
"In urban families, which are basically nuclear, we think these characters are negative because we don't live under such restrictions and fear. But rural families are bound by restriction, culture and tradition and such characters do exist," he adds. Producer Rajan Shahi too shares the same opinion. "In a traditional set-up there are a lot of restrictions. Those who impose these restrictions are viewed as people with negative characters. But that's not true. One needs to understand the reasons behind it as well," explains Shahi.
So while traditional family dramas are being lapped up by tellybuffs, let the grannies bring in the TRP.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tv-/Granny-tales/articleshow/5232904.cms
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