Article : Serials shut shop within months

There was a time, not very long ago, when soaps went on interminably. The average shelf life of daily soaps was at least a couple of years. Now there's a vastly different scenario visible on television. Shows open and close at the blink of an eye. Currently, except Balika Vadhu, Laado, Uttaran, Pavitra Rishta, Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai, Laagi Tujhse Lagan, Pratigya, Yahan Main Ghar Ghar Kheli and Sasural Genda Phool, no other serial has been lucky enough to complete even one year.

In the last six months, as many as 10 dailies — Gunahon Ka Devta, Pardes Mein Mila Koi Apna, Kismat, Aarakshan, Mera Naam Karegi Roshan, Sanjog Se Bani Sangini, Toh Baat Hamari Pakki, Pyar Mein Twist, Geeta Ka Dharamyudh and Mati Ki Banno — have shut shop within four to eight months. The reason for their closure — low TRPs. Channels too are getting impatient. "Channels are in no mood to support weak shows for a long period," rues producer J.D. Majethia of Mera Naam Karegi Roshan.

Pyar Mein Twist's producer Asit Modi says viewer loyalty's the key. "While lack of good content could be one reason, loyalty to old shows and commercial compulsions are affecting the success of new shows," he feels. Producer-director Ravindra Gautam of Aarakshan doesn't think content is an issue. "It's just that audiences don't like some shows," he adds. Majethia agrees, "There is no co-relation between ratings and quality. All the shows which are getting high ratings can't be called good. New shows need consistent eyeballs for the numbers to come in," he elaborates.

Ravindra feels experimentation with subjects can make things tough for the new shows. According to veteran TV director and ex-channel programmer Sanjay Upadhyay, the key reason for higher serial failure rate is lack of freedom for creative teams. "All original ideas and characterisations are reduced to stereotypes by channels," he rues. But if the success rate has come down to just about 15 per cent, does it mean fiction shows are heading for shorter lifespans? Sanjay says, "Shows are planned for at least a year. But they are being forced to close early."