My apologies,
I failed to mention that this rant of a post was emailed directly to 4lions:
admin@4lionsfilms.Com (which they had put up on their FB account).
Now will they actually read it...I sincerely hope!!
Dear 4 Lions,
Firstly thank you for providing us this platform to discuss your shows. This in itself says a lot that our opinions do matter to 4 Lions. You are passionate about your Business and Product.
As an ardent fan who has invested some very precious time over the past year, I dare to take this wonderful opportunity to bring forth my views and suggestions over my one and ONLY favourite show: Iss Pyar Ko Kya Naam Doon
Before I start, this is no teen telling you what to do and what not to do nor am I anyway associated with the Entertainment industry. Of course I am very well versed with how a good Client and Product/Service Supplier relationship works.
Gosh this is the first time in my life that I have dared to write to a Production House about their show. Since IPKKND happened I have come out of my comfort zone to do things that I have never done before. Write fictional stories surrounding the characters that you have created (because that is my dream and visualization)blog, analyze episodes, discuss and posts comments on social networking sites. Well simply said it's a mid-life crisis effect!!!
So here I go. There was a letter sent to Star India in the month of June, which I attach just so that you are aware how we felt then about IPKKND and still do.
It's been a year and half since you created your Product IPKKND. Right now it's only YOU who know where you intend to take it...another 100, 200, 300 or 500 episodes with or without the same leads or team! Since nothing is guaranteed...
One thing is for sure it is NOT a forever product. It will have its end. Now it depends on what kind of END you wish to give it. A kind that will leave an impact FOREVER or something that will ERASE what you magically created. What kind of memory do you wish to leave back with your viewers is the question?
From all of the networking sites you are well aware of how IPKKND started, what it became and what is it NOW!
85% of the viewers were late bloomers. Most of them caught up with your show somewhere around Nov/Dec/Jan...then went back and watched the past episodes to understand the characters and the storyline and have stayed with IPKKND through thick and thin...
I do understand there has been huge changes in your PH, with writers in and out, directors moving to and fro, actors either taking long breaks or want meatier roles which does affect the product whilst trying to accommodate all these changes.
There is a saying, "The Staff are the biggest assets of any organization" and it hold good in every kind of business, may it be entertainment, food, IT, engineering, blah blah blah!
But despite everything its left up to you (THE OWNER) to ensure that no matter what, you stay true to your "Brand 4 Lions"
Now from what I see the Brand 4 Lions seems to be losing its touch, or getting bored with their old product and are wanting to create something new every second day.
It is definitely NOT wrong to have fresh ideas and go on to add a new item to your product line. Consumer demands as well keep changing and you are simply providing it. But that does not mean your old product suffers and those faithful consumers(viewers) who chose IPKKND seek something similar with another Brand!
So I simply say do a "post product audit check" on IPKKND and set the gears into motion into ensuring that you reach the finishing line FIRST and in all GLORY. Now what should that checklist be all about:
Your lead characters and their character sketch - Arnav & Khushi
ASR - The fashion house business tycoon who held fashion shows and came off a helicopter to buy Sheesh Mahal. This is how you launched your character. The man with the shaatir dimaag.
These days there is absolutely no sign of the shaatir dimaag. Complete personality change - from the suave, well-trimmed stubble, well-dressed ASR! we now have a shabby, unkempt ASR showing up time and again. Gosh we were desperately waiting for ASR to smash up Shyam and what we get is a collar hold! Halleluia!
Khushi - The bubbly but bold, naughty, mature (for her age - refer Naani's dialogue "KHushi toh bahut hi samajdhar hai duseron ladkiyon se appni umar ke"
Currently she is shown to be too filmy and her antics are OTT. Instead of showing some level of maturity after marriage it is being shown the opposite. She seemed more mature before her marriage than now. Since when has she become the comic relief of the show?
Wardrobe of the Leads - Never changing. I mean of all the industries you created him to be a tycoon of the fashion industry. If it works out expensive why can't boutiques in Bombay sponsor their wardrobes.
Khushi's wardrobe - What is happening? The lead women of other shows who are married and come from humble homes have a complete makeover. And she is supposed to be the wife of ASR!!! I mean what else do you need to show a makeover. Why not even the saris that ASR has gifted her? Are they only for changing hands and not for being worn by Khushi?
Missing characters - Mamaji - Where is the man? And if he is not coming back. Have a statement made about his whereabouts time and again in the episodes. For heaven's sake Manorama is still wearing the mangalsutra!!! At least show her conversing with her husband on the phone or might as well kill his character.
Storyline - You have been bringing in new characters on a temporary basis and you create new tracks to absorb these characters. That is acceptable to some extent but do not make a mockery out of these characters or ruin the ones on the show already. Example the movie and ASR's office episode - it was some of worst episodes penned!
Now why new tracks? Without closing past tracks. What happened to Shyam? What about Shashi and his illness? Who were Khushi's parents? And so many more of which are already aware of. Enough petitions have been put up on all networking sites on this subject.
The new writers of the show need to watch the old episodes to get an idea about the character sketch of the main leads. For currently they both are being badly butchered.
Use your current support actors and create tracks around them. And if the writers have ran out of ideas because it is a daily soap, check and borrow ideas from the forums. There are some amazing stories and episodes created with different ideas.
And guess what you get all these ideas FOR FREE!
Now with the current kiddo on the show. Making him act like an adult is a no-no. What message are you passing across? Is it right to act the way he does. Boys of his age love batman and pokemon Tees not three piece suits!! Even the way the little boy talks!
The best way to redeem him would be to let his guard down and be a child for a change. And let Khushi bring this change in the boy. Let the little ASR fall for the charming Khushi.
Now Khushi - I mean why this comical ways of doing things. This new entry Sheetal has to make her more aware as a woman and bring about her change in her. The woman in her is affected by this whole thing. Khushi should be handling this situation with maturity and sensibility, whilst maintaining the true essence of her character (goodness and forgiving not become a joker instead) Ex-GFs ain't a laughing matter.
Gosh look at the scene in Barfi - Even the autistic character of PC wants to change after seeing the normal ex-GF of Barfi!!
This is an ALL woman watched show, lend the women some guts and dignity. You have such amazing actors. Depict them as being strong. Anjali is made to look pretty. Is that all to her character? Anyways you cannot undo whatever went wrong but at least show her to having her regrets and how she was duped and cheated by the man and she emerges stronger from all this. And now Anjali can be shown as wanting to direct her energies towards something useful. She needs to be shown as a woman who can take care of herself. This would be NAYI SOCCH(as per SP). You can then of course bring about a parallel track on her love life.
In ending I would like to say do RESSURECT...its never too late...and don't forget the USP of the show is Arnav Singh Raizada and his Shaatir Dimaag and Khushi Kumari Gupta's amazing chemistry with the man without giving up on her character of being a woman who wants to save the world!
Good Luck with Qabool Hai. All geared up to watch it! simply because it a 4 Lions product not due to the leads (yeah I can actually see a smile or two!) Have never seen them on TV before, though probably you are cashing in their popularity!
Thank you for letting us this platform!
A passionate viewer!
Cricket
CID
