Posted:
Here's another piece of news to add to the confusion!!!!! Selective leaks to gauge audience reaction and also increase TRPs I would say....😕
The hand that wields the remote can no longer be ignored. Suddenly soap addicts are assuming greater importance than before.
Even as the war on the small screen hots up with various shows introducing new characters and novel ideas, the producers can't pat themselves on the back just yet. If TRPs are anything to go by, no particular show has managed to retain the top spot for long.
Well, blame it on the audience who are now actively involved with the storylines of the shows. While producers and directors continuously make decisions that affect the storylines in most popular shows, audiences don't always take too kindly to the changes resulting in a drop in TRPs.
Now however, the audience gets their way, thanks to online fan forums, emails, etc that they shoot off to channels and producers and make them eat humble pie.
Very recently Sabki Laadli ... Bebo, tried to spice things up by introducing Bebo's evil twin Rano. But the furore created by the loyal fans over the negative character made the channel relent and put an end to that particular chapter. Similarly, Dill Mill Gayye used to be a TRP-tripper when Karan Singh Grover and Shilpa Anand played the leads. But when the actors quit the show and new characters introduced in Season 2, fans were dismayed and couldn't adjust to the new romance blossoming between Jennifer Winget (who's the new Riddhima) and Karan Wahi (Sid). Finally the channel and production house brought back KSG earlier this year and more recently, Shilpa was introduced in an all new avatar in a one-and-half hour special episode. And now, prime time faves Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi and Kitni Mohabbat Hai too are slated to make a comeback for a second season, thanks to audience demand.
Now Nupur's death in Miley Jab Hum Tum has upset loyal fans who have not taken to the sudden change too kindly. Producer Sudhir Sharma says, "We really respect our audience's reactions, since we make the show for them. But we also have to be logical in our story-telling." Whether the character will make a comeback for the fans is a question that remains to be answered though. "We work really hard to make these characters popular, whether it is their dialogues or acting or styling. Bringing a character back is not an issue and we are not averse to the idea if it logically fits into the storyline," says Sharma. Producer Ratna Sinha believes that the scenario has changed drastically, and now it's not the producer or channel, but the audience who calls the shots. "Today, audience reaction can change everything ' from a storyline to a character. And why not? They are the ones who make a show popular. So one should give them what they want to see," says Sinha.
So how do producers know what the audience wants? "One can gauge the reaction from your circle of friends, people in the neighbourhood, etc. They will tell you exactly what's working for them and what's not. And then there are emails as well," explains Sinha.
Producer-director Rajan Shahi who proposes to bring about a big change in Sapna Babul Ka Bidaai by bumping off Sadhna and Ranvir's characters feels that giving in to audience demand could be a problem. "Yes, audience reaction is very important. Television is a medium where one gets instant feedback. But at times the audience reaction is extreme and it hinders the natural progress of the show," opines Shahi.
So the question now is, are the big changes brought about simply to gauge the reaction of the audience? "Whether the junta likes it or not will reflect in the TRP. But if big changes are made in the storyline minus the gimmick and as a natural progression, the audience will surely accept the changes," he says.
It's true that the advertisers bring in the revenue, but today, the power to change an entire storyline ultimately depends on remote control junkies. And for once the audience sure loves being in the driving seat.
Even as the war on the small screen hots up with various shows introducing new characters and novel ideas, the producers can't pat themselves on the back just yet. If TRPs are anything to go by, no particular show has managed to retain the top spot for long.
Well, blame it on the audience who are now actively involved with the storylines of the shows. While producers and directors continuously make decisions that affect the storylines in most popular shows, audiences don't always take too kindly to the changes resulting in a drop in TRPs.
Now however, the audience gets their way, thanks to online fan forums, emails, etc that they shoot off to channels and producers and make them eat humble pie.
Very recently Sabki Laadli ... Bebo, tried to spice things up by introducing Bebo's evil twin Rano. But the furore created by the loyal fans over the negative character made the channel relent and put an end to that particular chapter. Similarly, Dill Mill Gayye used to be a TRP-tripper when Karan Singh Grover and Shilpa Anand played the leads. But when the actors quit the show and new characters introduced in Season 2, fans were dismayed and couldn't adjust to the new romance blossoming between Jennifer Winget (who's the new Riddhima) and Karan Wahi (Sid). Finally the channel and production house brought back KSG earlier this year and more recently, Shilpa was introduced in an all new avatar in a one-and-half hour special episode. And now, prime time faves Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi and Kitni Mohabbat Hai too are slated to make a comeback for a second season, thanks to audience demand.
Now Nupur's death in Miley Jab Hum Tum has upset loyal fans who have not taken to the sudden change too kindly. Producer Sudhir Sharma says, "We really respect our audience's reactions, since we make the show for them. But we also have to be logical in our story-telling." Whether the character will make a comeback for the fans is a question that remains to be answered though. "We work really hard to make these characters popular, whether it is their dialogues or acting or styling. Bringing a character back is not an issue and we are not averse to the idea if it logically fits into the storyline," says Sharma. Producer Ratna Sinha believes that the scenario has changed drastically, and now it's not the producer or channel, but the audience who calls the shots. "Today, audience reaction can change everything ' from a storyline to a character. And why not? They are the ones who make a show popular. So one should give them what they want to see," says Sinha.
So how do producers know what the audience wants? "One can gauge the reaction from your circle of friends, people in the neighbourhood, etc. They will tell you exactly what's working for them and what's not. And then there are emails as well," explains Sinha.
Producer-director Rajan Shahi who proposes to bring about a big change in Sapna Babul Ka Bidaai by bumping off Sadhna and Ranvir's characters feels that giving in to audience demand could be a problem. "Yes, audience reaction is very important. Television is a medium where one gets instant feedback. But at times the audience reaction is extreme and it hinders the natural progress of the show," opines Shahi.
So the question now is, are the big changes brought about simply to gauge the reaction of the audience? "Whether the junta likes it or not will reflect in the TRP. But if big changes are made in the storyline minus the gimmick and as a natural progression, the audience will surely accept the changes," he says.
It's true that the advertisers bring in the revenue, but today, the power to change an entire storyline ultimately depends on remote control junkies. And for once the audience sure loves being in the driving seat.
Anupamaa
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
