Love is on air

Soap producers experimenting with rom-com genre

The rom-com as a genre was never really tapped on the Indian small screen till now.

The desi television scene, dominated by the saas-bahu formula for long before reality TV took over, is seeing a surge of soaps that cash in on romance with a comic twist to offer freshness to jaded plots and in an attempt to boost ratings.

A slew of light-hearted shows across channels such as Na Bole Tum Na Maine Kuch Kaha, Dekha Ek Khwab, Chintu Aur Chinky Ki Badi Si Love Story, Tum Dena Saath Mera, Bade Achche Lagte Hain and Kuch Toh Log Kahenge are an indication that producers have hit upon the new TRP trick that, it seems, is here to stay for a while.

The romantic comedy was never really high on the priority list of channels that retorted to K-soap patented melodrama.

Going by the increasing numbers of rom-coms, it now looks like the couch potato might get a break from routine formulae.

The first thing that separates these new shows from whatever ruled fiction television ever since the satellite revolution happened is the polished look they set out to present.

This is far removed from the jarring sets, garish costumes and loud make-up of protagonists that marked the saas-bahu soaps.

The backdrop of most rom-coms currently on air is the middle-class household and subtlety marks the narration.

Incidentally, most of these shows borrow the basic idea from films, books or foreign soaps.

Kuch Toh Log Kahenge is based on the famous nineties Pakistani serial Dhoop Kinare.

Dekha Ek Khwab is based on Hollywood hit, The Princess Diaries, while Bade Achche Lagte Hain is based on the Gujarati novel Patrani.

What needs to be noted is whether these serials will maintain their unique flavour or ultimately resort to saas-bahu basics.

After all, issue-based serials such as Na Aana Iss Desh Laado, Balika Vadhu, Uttaran and Agale Janam Mohe Bitiya Hi Keejo set out to address socially-relevant subjects in the recent past before becoming K-soap clones.

Aww thaks sai, awesome read! I dnt knw about patrani, what is it? If any one has any info we can keep track of incidents that have happned and can happen. Will be good fun:D