Sleeper Hits -- Screenindia- SNS

Some shows promise little but deliver beyond expectations. Saath Nibhana Saathiya is one of the most unexpected successes of past one year. Launched in early 2010, it started on a low key but within six months it made it to the list of top five shows and subsequently went on to beat prime time star performers like Balika Vadhu, Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai, Uttaran and Pavitra Rishta for the number one slot with 6 TVR in December last year.

Since then it has consistently ruled general entertainment space with rock-solid ratings. In week 50 - December 4 to 10 - it scaled a new high of 7.58 TVR, highest for a fiction show in 2011. So what makes a 7 pm saas-bahu show of kitchen politics rule over prime time shows? "It's the story, the characters and the drama woven around small, every day life incidents that has kept viewers hooked on to the show," says Saathiya producer Rashmi Sharma. She admits that Saathiya is a saas-bahu show. "It was always intended to be a massy show. But its story, backdrop and characters are highly relatable." she adds.

Jia Manek who plays Gopi doesn't deny that kitchen politics rules in the show. "But it's different from the regular saas-bahu shows. People wouldn't have tuned in had we followed the Kyunki and Kahani route," says Jia. Elaborating further, she states, "Whether in her maternal home or in her sasural, Gopi has always lived in obligation and been treated like a maid. So the sympathy factor is really working for the show as Saathiya is essentially a Cinderella story."

Another show that has scored on the charts is Diya Aur Bati Hum. It was launched at a time when the 8.30 to 10 pm band was hit badly by Kaun Banega Crorepati's aam aadmi wave. However, Diya Aur Baati Hum defied the trend and doubled its ratings from 1.8 to 4.21 in two months. Post-KBC it started doing even better. Currently it is the No.2 show in GEC space with 5-plus TVR. What explains the show's sudden success which deals with marriage between a sweet shop owner and a well-educated and career-oriented girl?

Producer Sumeet Mittal says one of the reasons is its two lead characters. "Sooraj is not educated enough but he is a dream husband any girl would fall for. On the other hand, Sandhya is an educated and cultured girl. It's a case of right characters in wrong situations. Apart from characters, the story itself is very interesting," he explains. Anas Rashid who plays Sooraj says Diya Aur Baati Hum is a realistic show. "The characters, situations and dialogues are real and there is nothing fake about it unlike other shows," he adds. Debutant Deepika Singh who plays Sandhya feels the show depicts small town life realistically. "Every character has a view point and there are no negative characters in the show," she adds. According to Anas, the high point of the show will come when Sandhya's true identity is revealed. "The family will be shocked to learn that she is a well-educated girl wanting to be a civil servant. So there is lot of drama and twists and turns on the cards as relationships will be redefined," he reveals. In other words, the trump cards are yet to be opened as the real story has not begun. Saathiya also followed the same formula.

While Saathiya continues to rock on the back of Gopi's plight, it is said to be an underdog and a freak success which doesn't command place of pride in Star Plus' 'Rishta wohi, soch nayi' brand promise. The channel loves its success but finds it difficult to acknowledge with pride. The show's unexpected success has foxed the industry so much so that most people, including the channel, cannot fathom any plausible reason. However, senior TV analyst and ex-programmer Sanjay Upadhyay is of the view that Saathiya may be a saa-bahu show but its story, making and characters are credible. "It is a massy show but it is well rooted and hence connects well with viewers," he says.

As for Diya Aur Baati Hum, at least the thought is progressive even if it deals with saas bahu issues. Producer Rajan Shahi credits the show's success to its makers Shashi and Sumeet Mittal. "They understand mass audience. The USP of the show is the makers' honesty and conviction. What works in a daily is strong characterisation and Diya Aur Baati Hum has that," he says.

i think its because SP has a stigma of showing saas-bahu dramas & even though they are trying to steer away from it, their most successful shows (on the channel & throughout india) is a saas-bahu serial .. they say the genre is dead but honestly it has just refined itself to be more real, digestable, and enjoyable.

thanks for sharing!

SNS is here to rule 😊