Posted:
Destiny ruleth
Destiny is said to be the ultimate as far as human beings are concerned. In certain cases the results are good while in some it is contrary. A similar case is that of Suman whose destiny leads her away from the one she loves, to marry another man. Screen talks to the producer, writer and director of Saathi Re..., who reveal more about the serial
Poducer - Sunjay WadhwaWhat is Saathi Re... all about?
Unlike others, this serial does not follow multiple tracks but is destiny-related. Through this we underline the point that one gets what he/she is destined to get. Could you elaborate on the story?
The story is set in a middle-class conservative Gujarati family. The elder daughter Suman falls in love with one person but fate destines her to marry another. This is no ordinary marriage. Both meet accidentally. The relationship starts with friendship which grows into love and ends up in marriage. You seem to be having a ball enjoying one-and-a-half hour primetime exposure on television?
Yes I am elated. I have Betiyaan Apni Ya Paraaya Dhan on StarOne at 9 p.m. that is repeated on Star Plus at 11.30 p.m.the same evening. Then there is Saat Phere that is telecast on Zee TV at 9.30 p.m. and finally there is Saathi Re... that is aired on StarOne at 8.30 p.m. But all this hasn't come easily. This is the result of the hard work that we have put in. My entire team is charged up because of this. This in short is appreciation to my team, a kind of 'pat in the back' for the Sphere Origins. Tell us something about Sphere Origins?
Way back in April 1997, I established Karnik Communications with my first TV serial Neeyat telecast on Zee TV. The serial was a trailblazer, with its unique story based on the lifestyles of celebrities from the film industry. The birth of Sphere Origins took place somewhere in 2002. Here, we have an ideation team which looks into the creative aspects of every show we make, works on a theme, develops concepts and presents the ideas to the channels.
Though Zee TV has been a favourite, it doesn't have slots to give for the prime soaps. Having worked with STAR and enjoying a comfort level with them, I approached them and was happy that they okayed my proposal. How long did it take for your serials to get the okay?
For Saath Phere it took me five months, ...Betiyaan took four months to get the approval while it took three months for Saathi Re... to get the nod. What is the work pattern you follow?
Well, there is a thumb rule of having a bank of a minimum two weeks. We shoot an episode in about 1 three fourth of a day. To put the record right let me say that we shot 16 episodes in about 25 to 27 days. How do you fix a budget for a serial?
Fixing a budget depends on the scale of challenge and also on what funds the channel is offering. Mounting is on a different level for a serial that will show in the primetime slot. Tell us more about your projects.
We did a detective series titled D.O.N 'Detective Omkar Nath' for Star Plus that had Parmeet Sethi in the lead. The look of the show was very different - nothing like CID or other investigative shows on air. Talks are on for a non-fiction show on Discovery and a reality show too. This year, people will hear about us making films and many more television shows for different channels. Throw some light on your personal life
I have been happily married for the last 15 years and I have a 13 year old daughter. Besides being actively involved in the look of my shows, my wife Comall is into exports of furniture articles. What role does Comall have to play in Sphere Origins?
Comall is the co-producer. She does the formatting; in a way puts the show together in terms of looks. Director - Vijay Pande
What is Saathi Re... all about?
The serial is all about the games what destiny plays in the life of Suman (Parakh Madan). Or why would she be put in a dilemma about chosing her life companion. Where on one hand her friendship with Prem (Arjun Punj) is blossoming into love, on the other she comes in contact with Rajeev (Aamir Dalvi), a physically disabled person with a heart of gold. The later part of the story unfolds as to who will be her companion in the journey of life. It is only after Aamir's entry in the serial that destiny will start palying its game. In short Suman's story reconfirms the belief that 'human beings are mere puppets in the hands of destiny.' If I may add here, the slogan Saat Kadam Saath Saath will play a major part in my serial. What does Suman eventually do?
I wouldn't be able to divulge more except that Suman's fight with destiny to change the course of life forms the crux of the story. It is also not that she does not have to face hurdles in achieving success. You have done many period dramas.Are you comfortable with emotional subjects?
Yes I have done some absorbing period dramas like Sanjay Khan's Sword of Tipu Sultan, Great Maratha and Thief of Baghdad but I have also handled emotional subjects like Arth, Des Mein Nikla Hoga Chand and Saat Phere. To tell you the fact emotion and family drama are my domain. Any important role that Suman's parents have to play?
Yes, her father Hasmukh Joshi (Kiran Karmarkar), a diamond merchant leads a very simple life. He is a man of principles and makes sure that his family too lives by those principles. Though he is a strong believer of Shiva and traditional by nature, he is not superstitious. On the other hand his wife Neela (Indira Krishnan) is very religious and superstitious. What would you say about destiny? Do you believe in it?
(smiles) We have no choice of what colour we're born or who our parents are or whether we're rich or poor. What we do have is some choice over what we make of our lives once we're here. To me, like all coins destiny too has two sides. One, there are people who believe in it and the others are people who take things as they happen.They fight destiny when they are made to.I am of the second type. I like to cross the bridge when it comes before me. On this count I am highly impressed with the song Sahir saab wrote: Tadbir Se Bigdi Hui Taqdir Banale, Apne Pe Bharosa Hai To Daav Lagale. What do you have to say about your artistes?
All my artistes are good and doing a reasonably good job. What should I tell about Kiran, Indira Krishnan who plays his wife and Arjun, they are all seasoned artistes and take very little time to get into the character. As for Parakh, she has a fresh face and is good. She is making a lot of efforts and is fast picking up. It isn't easy for a first-timer to get into a role so very easily. But all said and done, Parakh's efforts need to be applauded. How many episodes have you shot? When is the serial telecast?
Well, I have shot about sixteen episodes so far and the shoot goes on daily. The serial is currently being aired on StarOne from Monday to Thursday 8.30 p.m. l Writer - Purnendu Shekhar
You are credited to having written Saathi Re....
Well, the basic story was by Bhavin Joshi, I have further developed the story. Tell us something about the story?
The story is about a Gujarati family who live on some basic principles and moral values. At one stage, the family is faced with the wrath of destiny. How they face the wrath and come out of it forms the crux of the serial. The serial has everything, light moments, romance, emotions et al. Does the serial have a villain also?
Yes, the serial does have a villain and that is destiny. Have you had the taste of destiny in real life?
Yes, Destiny is a big player in a life of a person. I'll relate you two of my personal experiences. You see I had come to Mumbai in a hope to become an actor. I struggled for seven years at the end of which I got disgruntled and had made up my mind to return to Jaipur to further my journalism career. Just four days earlier to my departure, I got a call from Ravi Rai who wanted me to write for his serial Imtihan. Then there was no looking back for me. All that is desiny and this changed course of my life. What's the other experience?
Destiny plays a big part in marriages too. This I discovered in my own case. My marriage to the girl I saw first and okayed, never got through, while my wife has had two 'would be's' to talk to earlier but she eventually got married to me. This is destiny. Yes, I would like to caution people, don't treat luck on par with destiny. Although the words are used interchangeably, fate and destiny are different things. Modern usage defines 'fate' as a power or agency that predetermines and orders the course of events. The definition of fate has it that events are ordered or "meant to be". Fate is used in regard to the finality of events as they have worked themselves out, and the same finality is projected into the future to become the inevitability of events as they will work themselves out.
Bade Achhe Lagte Hain
Bigg Boss 19
Real Estate
