HI guys, read this article in TOI and thought of posting it here. This article gives a insight into why all nice serials invariably turn into saas bahu serials. The last paragraph, I have highlighted in bold, the problem the industry faces, and why the story can never move like how we want it.
Contrary to what you'd expect, the days of saas-bahu serials on television are far from numbered! The show topping Television Rating Point (TRP) charts is a typical family drama, wherein one daughter-in-law constantly connives against the other. And each time the kitchen politics gets worse, the TRPs get better! The other toppers on the charts are also family soaps.
Drama's the keyword
Clearly, drama sells big on Indian television. Various new genres in programming may have come in but at the end of the day, saas-bahu soaps dominate most homes, not just in villages or small towns but also cities. Producer Sunjoy Waddhwa compares viewers' telly choices to their daily diet. "The Indian palate is such that you need to have your daily dal-chawal or roti-sabzi. Once in a while, you also like trying out newer stuff. Serials are that staple diet of the audiences. Of course, non-fiction shows like reality shows, food-based or travel shows etc will also always have a presence, but soaps will remain the top choice." Adds Saurabh Tewari, channel head-turned producer, "Indian audiences feel more connected to soap characters because most of the stories are either their stories or aspirational for them. That's why the connectivity is much higher."
Non-fiction going the fiction way
Realising the importance of drama, some reality shows too have decided to go all out and stir people's emotions. Any reality show that has worked well has had its own piece of drama. Kaun Banega Crorepati's success today can easily be attributed to this, as the show continues to do much better than all other non-fiction shows. It's about striking a chord and whoever does it best hits jackpot. At the moment, Bigg Boss is trying hard to impress audiences by spicing up the content courtesy model Pooja Misshra and actress Shraddha Sharma! Last year, they had the loud Dolly Bindra in her element.
TRPs ke liye kuch bhi karega
Reality shows may use the element of nautanki, but for makers, it's always serials that offer the best platform for drama. And the creative teams make good use of it, even to the extent of going bizarre. Getting the lead actress married off five times, two friends and their babies getting exchanged, a mother-in-law who's good one day and bad the next, the heroine's younger sister taking pheras with her brother-in-law... the list is endless. And why blame telly writers? They have no choice but to come up with these high-points every now and then to keep the viewer interest alive and garner TRPs.
The problem, as many in the industry believe, is the existing system that determines viewing patterns. "How can just a handful of people determine what a nation would like to watch?" says an actress, who did not wish to be named. Her view, incidentally, is echoed by most in the industry. Will we ever see a change?
CID
