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Holi sequences don't just help register soaring TRPs. We spoke to producers of a handful of serials who cited several other reasons why the festival of colours clicks with the audience when depicted on screen.
You switch on your TV right on time for your favourite prime time telly soap and find the cast soaked to their skin in Holi colours. Change the channel and there's yet another family indulging in Holi masti.
It's that time of the year when almost all shows on Indian GECs are showing Holi sequences and TRP is not the only reason why producers are making splashes of this festival of colours on their canvas of fiction. "Everything we do in a show is not targeted towards ratings," says producer Yash Patnaik of Junoon and Beera. "We use a festival to trigger a story. In Junoon, we have used Holi to bring forth the extreme emotions of the three main characters. Since it comes once a year, it can also be used to showcase the transition of time," he added.
Sudhir Sharma, who produces Na Bole Tum Na Maine Kuch Kaha, agrees. "We don't think of TRPs all the time. We have to be creatively honest towards our work too. Even Hollywood movies slated to release around Christmas, have Christmas related storylines. This is to hold viewers. Festivals are a high point in real life too. For example, in Na Bole Tum Na Maine Kuch Kaha, Navika will reconcile with her father after 12 years on Holi. In real life too, people tend to forgive their near and dear ones."
Rajan Shahi, who has used Holi sequences in Kuch Toh Log Kahenge, Amrit Manthan and Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai says, "Holi has a pan-India connect and transcends communities, social strata and age groups. Generally, other festivals have a notion of sobriety attached to them. Holi, on the other hand, is colourful and associated with gaiety, laughter and joy. It is a nice platform to get a character break its mould. For example, last year, we made the very docile Akshara in Yeh Rishta... have bhang. Her romance with Naitik then got a different flavour altogether. It also sets the tone for celebrations for the audience. Ek mahaul ban jata hai. The best part is, most people are indoors on Holi evening and they can catch the shows."
Planning Holi sequences is a costly affair. "It is very expensive because you have to hire a location, get special costumes, hire junior artists, get water supply, at times record a song," saidYash. Skyrocketing costs also make some producers develop expectations of high TRP. "This year, I have spent around '25 lakh on just the Holi sequence in Yeh Rishta... So yes, we have a lot of expectations from TRPs."
Ratings notwithstanding, producers refrain from forcing a festive sequence into their plots.Siddharth Kumar Tewary, who produces Amita Ka Amit, says, "There's no doubt that any kind of function, be it marriage, Holi or Diwali, connects with the audience. These things also make television a very topical medium. But just because there is Holi, I can't force it in the storyline. Right now, Amita Ka Amit is edging towards a marriage sequence, so we couldn't have included Holi."
You switch on your TV right on time for your favourite prime time telly soap and find the cast soaked to their skin in Holi colours. Change the channel and there's yet another family indulging in Holi masti.
It's that time of the year when almost all shows on Indian GECs are showing Holi sequences and TRP is not the only reason why producers are making splashes of this festival of colours on their canvas of fiction. "Everything we do in a show is not targeted towards ratings," says producer Yash Patnaik of Junoon and Beera. "We use a festival to trigger a story. In Junoon, we have used Holi to bring forth the extreme emotions of the three main characters. Since it comes once a year, it can also be used to showcase the transition of time," he added.
Sudhir Sharma, who produces Na Bole Tum Na Maine Kuch Kaha, agrees. "We don't think of TRPs all the time. We have to be creatively honest towards our work too. Even Hollywood movies slated to release around Christmas, have Christmas related storylines. This is to hold viewers. Festivals are a high point in real life too. For example, in Na Bole Tum Na Maine Kuch Kaha, Navika will reconcile with her father after 12 years on Holi. In real life too, people tend to forgive their near and dear ones."
Rajan Shahi, who has used Holi sequences in Kuch Toh Log Kahenge, Amrit Manthan and Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai says, "Holi has a pan-India connect and transcends communities, social strata and age groups. Generally, other festivals have a notion of sobriety attached to them. Holi, on the other hand, is colourful and associated with gaiety, laughter and joy. It is a nice platform to get a character break its mould. For example, last year, we made the very docile Akshara in Yeh Rishta... have bhang. Her romance with Naitik then got a different flavour altogether. It also sets the tone for celebrations for the audience. Ek mahaul ban jata hai. The best part is, most people are indoors on Holi evening and they can catch the shows."
Planning Holi sequences is a costly affair. "It is very expensive because you have to hire a location, get special costumes, hire junior artists, get water supply, at times record a song," saidYash. Skyrocketing costs also make some producers develop expectations of high TRP. "This year, I have spent around '25 lakh on just the Holi sequence in Yeh Rishta... So yes, we have a lot of expectations from TRPs."
Ratings notwithstanding, producers refrain from forcing a festive sequence into their plots.Siddharth Kumar Tewary, who produces Amita Ka Amit, says, "There's no doubt that any kind of function, be it marriage, Holi or Diwali, connects with the audience. These things also make television a very topical medium. But just because there is Holi, I can't force it in the storyline. Right now, Amita Ka Amit is edging towards a marriage sequence, so we couldn't have included Holi."
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