Non ekta shows - article

Looks like Balaji's domination over the small screen is finally over as other production houses take over

Even though the queen of soaps Ekta Kapoor's shows showed a declining trend this year, she still ruled the rating charts with most of her serials securing position in top 10 serials week after week. According to TAM ratings, the top 10 serials viewed in most cable and satellite homes in India were from the Balaji factory. Then too, there were some shows from other production houses who successfully managed to garner audiences' interest.
Prithviraj Chauhan (Star Plus), Bhabhi (Star Plus), Baa Bahu Aur Baby (Star Plus), Sai Baba (Star Plus), Saat Phere (Zee TV) and even C. I. D (Sony TV) gave some tough competition to K serials this year.

The reasons behind these non Balaji serials clicking are manifold. Prithiviraj Chauhan has offered a fresh perspective to viewers of a different class. The child artist who plays young Prithviraaj has attracted the eyeballs and hence is still being retained in the show, with model Angad Bedi who was supposed to play the grown up Prithviraj, waiting in the wings.
The Sagars of Ramayan also scored with yet another mythological Sai Baba. Devotees simply lapped up the show despite the fact that a couple of shows had already been made earlier on the popular deity. This goes on to prove that what others do; the Sagars can do better.

Another different approach at exploiting a popular idea worked too. Baa, Bahu Aur Baby was meant for the loyal viewers of saas-bahu serials and the intention was to present it in a different way. The show ended up being a big hit. The afternoon slot has it's own share of loyal viewers. BAG films have been lucky with its popular bahu Kumkum, the protagonist of Kumkum - Ek Pyara Sa Bandhan. Viewers still showed as much attachment towards Kumkum's family as before.

The same goes for Bhabi. This long running UTV show successfully retained its place in the hearts of the family audiences. The new TV bahu, the dusky Saloni has become a household name now. She ended up being the biggest name of Zee TV with Saat Phere, as it steadily climbed up on the TRP charts. Last but not the least, we can call CID the only face savior of Sony Entertainment Television which otherwise had a bad year, losing it's no 2 position to Zee. Since many years, CID had been providing thrills and chills to its viewers. This episodic sure has rocked and is likely to do so in many more years to come.

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