DC: Where is the love on telly?

Though marriages are a dime a dozen in TV serials, these marriages are probably the most loveless relationships around.

It's not even because the couples are incompatible, or have issues relating to adjustment, lack of understanding and egos. On the contrary, many of them make cute couples and some have even fallen in love and tied the knot in real life.

On television though, the chaotic drama surrounding the household takes a toll on relationships and the stress on their faces make them the saddest couples in world. What's more, even generation leaps, parenthood and children don't make a difference to their lives!

Be it Manav and Archana of Pavitra Rishta, Gopi and Ahem of Saath Nibhana Saathiya, Sooraj and Sandhya of Diya Aur Baati Hum, Pratigya and Krishna of Pratigya, Ram and Priya of Bade Achhe Lagte Hain, Mona and Anukalp of Ram Milayi Jodi or the lead pair of any other prime-time daily, every TV couple's life is devoid of love.

So, why are TV marriages loveless? "They are designed to be loveless because drama doesn't come out of a happy and loving husband-wife relationship," says former TV programmer-turned-producer Saurabh Tewari. He elaborates, "The story is structured in such a way that no stone is left unturned to keep the couple apart. Ratings come when there is a wedge in the relationship. It is a tried and tested formula of success."

Formula apart, producer Sudhir Sharma of 12/24 Karol Bagh and Na Bole Tum Na Maine Kuch Kaha says there is nothing as beautiful and complicated as marriage. "When you are making a five-day-a-week daily, the sheer amount of content required each week compels you to use marital conflict as a booster injection to create dramatic high points," he reasons.

It is probably why TV couples are never seen spending happy moments. "As the story revolves around creating marital discord, most of the drama happens in the living room, while the bedroom is mainly used by unit members for resting during breaks," laughs Anas Rashid, who plays Sooraj in Diya Aur Baati Hum, wondering why daily soap sets always have bedrooms when they are hardly used.

Ex-Bade Achhe Lagte Hain director Ravindra Gautam, who is currently directing Kya Hua Tera Vada says, "The crux of a family drama is marriage to consummation. Once consummation happens, most of the story gets over. The relationship moves into a new zone and needs a generation leap. Not many actors are happy playing parents though," he explains. ___