| He started his career 18 years ago as an associate to Ravi Rai. Through the years, he's risen from production boy to assistant to lead director and producer of many popular TV shows. After setting up the ground-breaking show Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahain, Rajan Shahi launched his own production house and now is the creator of famous shows like Sapnaa Baabul Ka Bidaai, Chand Chupa Badal Mein and Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai.
| | Director-producer Rajan Shahi |
Which, according to you, are the most important milestones of your TV career?
I think first important milestone was to be groomed under Ravi Rai as a director and to work on shows such as Sailab, Thoda Hai Thode Ki Zaroorat Hai as an associate director. These shows had different sensibilities and set the trend for shows like Bade Ache Lagte Hain for example. Another milestone I would say was when I directed my first daily soap Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin which also went on to be an iconic show. But my biggest achievement was when I launched my own production house, Director's Kut Productions. The first show launched under the banner was Bidaai which was responsible for launching new stars and also comebacks.
You are a producer, but you have been known to sit in the director's chair on occasion. How do you balance both the roles?
Initially I was involved in the creative part of Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai. I didn't physically direct anything but yes I was monitoring the scripts, the cast, music, look of the show; basically I was keeping a close look on the daily work.
You have made successful shows such as Sapnaa Baabul ka, Bidaai and Chand Chupa Badal Mein, what do you think is important for a show to be successful?
You can never tell whether it's the producer, writer, director or broadcaster that holds the key to certain success. I believe what makes a show work is the connection it establishes with its audience. Like Bidaai its USP was its simplicity and it came at a time when the shows running were of a different kind. People connected with the two sisters who were very much the girl-next-door type. Every show will have its own reason to be popular and more often than not it's a combination of different things.
To what extent is a channel involved in the making of a show and how important is it?
I like to work in collaboration with the channel; I feel it's very important. You gain a lot of insight, a lot of help from the channel and it's their money that they are investing in the show. They also help you in terms of marketing as they are aptly updated with their research, about what their audiences prefer watching.
Do you find channel intervention in the creative part an impediment while working on your shows?
Definitely in the creative aspect there are bound to be a lot of points of view and no person is right or wrong. So there will be clashes. Yes there have been lot of good shows that were discontinued, a lot of good talent that went to waste simply because of differences in opinion. So a broadcaster needs to have the confidence in the team they are choosing and give them the freedom to create.
Tell us something about the process of making a daily soap.
Different departments are involved in this process such as the writing team, a creative team which supervises the writing team, set of directors, set of actors, the art team and once all this is done the product goes to the editing team. They mix the sound, edit the copy and send the final product to the channel. So everyone here works in tandem and no one has the luxury of time.
How do TRPs affect the tracks of a show?
With an increase in the number of shows there's been a drop in stability and this affects the producer the most. The life spans of shows have decreased. Now if a show runs for one year we consider it a hit. So TRPs definitely make a difference. The TRP of a show is decided in two weeks and then changes are made in the show to increase ratings. As a short term solution, this will work. However, I believe in the long run this is an unhealthy practice which will lead to a lot of chaos.
Tell us something about your new show Havan.
The show is tentatively titled Havan and we're definitely in the process of working on it but there's not much more I can say about it right now.
What are the future plans of Director's Kut?
Right now we are concentrating on TV projects which will be coming up in a few months. We are definitely interested in making films but not at the cost of TV.
LINK=
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nice interview Rajan Ji ..Indeed Jassi jaise Koi nahi was iconic and wished there was a sequel of it or a new season, and you show bidaaii showed us depth of relationship. TRP's now a days play a major part in television with all the launches which are shown. I feel the quality of shows have gone down .. People need shows which were launched with depth and meaningful messages life the ones between 2003-2009..They have a lot of weight age to relationship and some have shown it even now but very few .
I do wish bidaaii comes back as it left on a very high note and it will be greatly appreciated, if you could have Apurva comeback in a beautiful role of Anmol, Many of us would appreciate if you can have him back in your show if you make Bidaaii again as the character has immense depth,
Good luck for your show Havan , hope it gives you more achievements to your kitty
|
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
