Deluge dampens tellydome!-article

The terrible memories of 26/7 last year returned when on 4/7 the weather Gods decreed that it would pour and pour. Yes, many lives were lost, many struggled to get home in an overflowing Mumbai, but there were a lucky few who enjoyed a hot mug of coffee in their cozy apartments! Businesses suffered losses too as schedules went awry. Tellydom too was affected, and how!

For instance, Zee TV channel driver Kasamh Se, is struggling to get its production line up back in order. A source close to the show reveals, "Kasamh Se doesn't have a bank of episodes at all, and this is all because of the rains." He continues in an irritated tone, "They are shooting today for tomorrow's telecast. What happens is that artists have to wait for others and in this way we end up wasting many hours."

So has everything settled down a day later? "Not at all. Due to the rains and his ill health, Ram Kapoor won't be coming today. So the other tracks will be shot in the meantime."

Production and soap factory Balaji Telefilms was another victim of the incessant rains says creative director Nivedita Basu. She elaborates: "Yesterday (4/7) shooting was impossible. Our sets were literally drowning; no one was allowed to enter. All the shows have been affected equally, but Kasamh Se and Kavyanjali have been harmed the most." 😭

She adds that sets and studio issues apart, the shooting schedules too have gone haywire. "We have a bank, with a gap of two to three days between the telecast and the shoot. This weekend I will have to reschedule everything," she shrugs helplessly..

Just like Kasamh Se, ZeeTV's Saat Phere too has suffered a lot. A source close to the show says, "We are shooting cut to cut. Because of the unexpected downpour, we had to make major changes in our script, as we can't shoot outdoor."

He added that the producer had to send cars to fetch the actors as they were not willing to use their transport!

While Kasamh Se is desperately trying to wrap and get back on track, India Calling (Star One) and Twinkle Beauty Parlour (SAB) are in fine fettle. Says Rose Audiovisuals promoter Shrishti Arya: "Fortunately, nothing has been affected. From the sets to the schedule, everything is well-planned and executed."

And in contrast to others, she says, she has quite a few episodes banked already. Shrishti must thank God for such small mercies!

Star Plus' Kesar and Bhabhi, which are a staple diet for viewers during lunch time, too haven't faced much of a problem. "We are lucky, just minor delays. We do have a bank, though not a decent one," says a source from Star.

While others seem star crossed, Star One's Yeh Dil Chahe More and Kya Hoga Nimmo Ka claim they are not facing any problems at all. But an insider tips us, "Both the shows have been affected in terms of bank and schedule, as they are dailies."

Be that as it may, production houses and channels will have to put on their thinking caps to find ways to ensure that they don't mess up on production runs, in case the rain Gods decide to frown once again. For the 4/7 deluge was just the beginning of the monsoon. As days progress, things could get worse! Otherwise viewers could be left high and dry watching re-runs.

Source:tc