TOI: Post IPL, prime time heats up-Pratigya

As IPL's current season inches to some nail-biting play-offs (and hopefully a 'dhamakedaar'finale), Hindi general entertainment channels (GECs) are bracing up to recover lost ground (read: salvage TRPs) with big ticket shows in the pipeline. In 2013, Hindi GECs faced the onslaught of IPL fervour as the cricketing extravaganza cannibalised viewership and show TRPs hit a low with every passing week. The second quarter will see Hindi GECs get set for a red carpet welcome to brand new shows. Here's what's in store...

Reality rules
Just as real drama from the cricket field ends, it will be time for onscreen reality drama to unfold. With a flurry of reality shows likeJhalak Dikhlaa Jaa 7, Indian Idol Junior, Dance India Dance Supermoms, Kaun Banega Crorepati 7 launching post IPL, it seems like a quarter spiced with some reality byte time. "Post IPL is just the right time to launch a show," says producer Vipul D Shah adding, "IPL has already been detrimental for us and GECs have seen a 30%-40% drop in GRPs. The period between June to December is the right time to garner GRPs as viewers are glued to the shows and with the festive season ticking off from August onwards, the viewership only increases."

Soapy froth
With the IPL's closing match in May end, you'd have expected more action in Hindi GECs and a slew of new soaps being launched. But by the looks of it, the channels are going to play safe and for now only a couple of new shows, Jaan and Crazy Stupid Ishq are ready to hit the screens, while some ambitious soap projects are still waiting to go on the floors.

Debut like divas
While all the glamour that IPL cheer girls sprinkle from their on field presence might be relegated to history soon, Bollywood sex sirens Sherlyn Chopra and Mallika Sherawat will ensure there's enough oomph in our daily lives as they scorch the small screen in their telly debuts, Splitsvilla and Bachelorette India respectively. The summer's sure gonna look more er-sizzling...

'Season'al returns
The year 2013 sees fiction shows marking their seasonal returns, While 2013 turned out to be a TRP disaster and is breathing its last soon, Na Bole Tum... Na Maine Kuchh Kaha's second season seems to be going great guns and is recording decent TRPs. Coming to your soap screens in a few day will be Punar Vivah's new edition with Rubina Dalik, Shrishti Rode and Karan V Grover in the lead; Mann Ki Awaaz Pratigya will return with Pooja Gor and a different male lead; while auditions are being reportedly being held for the new seasons of Saas Bina Sasural and Dil Se Di Dua...Saubhagyavati Bhav? Karanvir Bohra of Dil Se Di Dua... shares, "Seasons of fiction shows will work in India as people relate to the characters from previous seasons and it is good to take a break and come with a better storyline." Seems like lot is brewing at creative end.

Costume drama
Extravagantly styled sets, elaborate costumes and big budgets seem to be the flavour of the season post IPL. While Devon Ke Dev... Mahadev, Jai Jai Jai Bajrangbali and Ramayan already are taking the screen space, Dharti Ka Veer Yoddha...Maharana Pratap, Jodha Akbar andMahabharat are soon going to make their splash on the soapbox in the upcoming weeks.Says Siddharth Kumar Tewary, producer of Mahabharat, "In an era of where channels fight for TRPs shows in the same genre will launch simultaneously. Whether epics become the flavour of the season is to be seen." In the past TRPs have shown little support for these lavish costume dramas, but it's a risk that channels are planning to take.