TRP - a friend and a foe - Page 5

So the show needs to be pleasant, easy viewing , happy feel to be able to engage and retain viewers.

yes! u got it arshi, the show has to be entertaining! the cvz will have to make SC less heavy duty, keeping the main story intact, otherwise the viewers would rather spend time in the bar to cjillax than to watch a soap that depresses them!

oh dear lord its a huge post .. n i bet super talk n talk kind ... but i need to know all this stuff

so res yeah bookmark

Awful isn't it, 5500 households randomly chosen dictating what millions get to watch, it not only is unfair to viewers, it is also highly unfair to all the artists who are a part of this industry and want to do quality work!

it is! what can we as viewers do to change it! any suggestions?

Originally posted by: mandygill

very well said arshi! completely agree with u! i also do not want the original story to change, few scenes can be played around to make the story interesting but i do not want slb to change the entire story, otherwise it will not be an adaptation of a novel!

dunno...i am kind of agreeing with @smrth on this one.. would like to have the better ending...

consider the Romeo & Juliet example, while we know the end, it comes quickly at the end in the last scene...

what limited info I have of the SC story ...it is almost like death through a thousand cuts...my friends tell me it is one awful thing after another for kumud...unrelenting waves of tragedy...which starts at the same time as we are now...in the novel too SC meets her once and they confesses their love...when he returns back the sh*t hits the fan...and in the long run everyone fails her in her time of need...

it seems the author had set the novel in the 18th-19th century when India was still governed by stiffling tabboos, rigid societal norms etc...he has made kumud's character as the proverbial scapegoat on whom tragey is constantly brought upon and in whose helplessness he tries to make a point about the ruinous nature of a particular societal norm...and net net the pain is more than the love...

so either you make a period drama which sets the right context...any other adaptation (like this version) and a TV show in this century will need an adaptation of the end...and why can't an adaptation be a reinterpretation for these times? (Just look at Quentin Tranatinos Inglourius Basterds or Django Unchained)

Originally posted by: arshicritic

@smrth and hotdogg

Point no 1 and 2 - the tragic ending and the average TV viewer:

Yes, I do see a point there, when we "go" to watch a movie, or pick up a book,

we are giving dedicated time to it, and blocking the world out, for that period of time.

So, 1. We pick and choose what we want to commit to

2. We can completely submerse ourselves in the book or the movie,

as we have locked the world out for that period

3. This "love affair" with the book / movie is for a limited period,

so we too are willing to divorce real life for that much time

That essentially means that film makers and authors can take risks because once the viewer/

reader is hooked, he/ she would stay on till the end, though even there,

commercial compulsions often dilute the quality.

Contrast that to the TV viewer:

1. A housewife - the show has to reach out to her through the multiple activities she is

simultaneously engaged in - this from my mom and mom-in-law -

cooker whistling in the bg,

ringing phones and doorbells, homework, laundry etc etc

2. Non captive viewers and too many channels -

no compulsion to just stick through the "boring" parts

- just switch channels to something better- this from my hubby

- who suffers from channel surfing-itis ,

so while he knows which show he is watching,

which show is getting his TRP is completely random

3. Working people - watching to unwind and relax -

this from a sis-in-law who watches soaps as

they help her to sleep -

so she is logging TRPs for something she mostly dozes through

4. Mainly - it has to be feel good,

life is full of problems and struggles so at least the TV show I

choose should make me happy -

this from a cousin - who did not watch Satyamev Jayate

becuase then her Sunday would be ruined -

She would rather give her TRP to a show that

makes her smile

5. And of course last main , there are people like me ,

who put up huge ' do not disturb' boards

everyday at 7:30pm, which are completely disregarded by everyone,

husband, kids, in laws, and anyone and everyone with a phone,

so I end up watching it online and my even TRP

doesn't go to SLB.

So it's, not so much about viewers not being intelligent enough - it's about the whole dynamics of how and why we watch TV soaps, and a TV show maker has to contend with always competing with real life, day after day.

So the show nees to be pleasant, easy viewing , happy feel to be able to engage and retain viewers.

@hotdogg 🤗🤗🤗 Kya likha hai, boss, I have a whole new respect for every one who works for a TV show.

@arshi
this is the perfect synthesis...
and the reason why hope is the essential ingredient to create stickiness...
(my ongoing pitch for a happy ending).. :-)

Originally posted by: hotdogg

dunno...i am kind of agreeing with @smrth on this one.. would like to have the better ending...

consider the Romeo & Juliet example, while we know the end, it comes quickly at the end in the last scene...

what limited info I have of the SC story ...it is almost like death through a thousand cuts...my friends tell me it is one awful thing after another for kumud...unrelenting waves of tragedy...which starts at the same time as we are now...in the novel too SC meets her once and they confesses their love...when he returns back the sh*t hits the fan...and in the long run everyone fails her in her time of need...

it seems the author had set the novel in the 18th-19th century when India was still governed by stiffling tabboos, rigid societal norms etc...he has made kumud's character as the proverbial scapegoat on whom tragey is constantly brought upon and in whose helplessness he tries to make a point about the ruinous nature of a particular societal norm...and net net the pain is more than the love...

so either you make a period drama which sets the right context...any other adaptation (like this version) and a TV show in this century will need an adaptation of the end...and why can't an adaptation be a reinterpretation for these times? (Just look at Quentin Tranatinos Inglourius Basterds or Django Unchained)

u do have a point here hotdogg, i have a feeling that the cvz will change the story according to the trps, they might keep the essence of the story, but the scenes might change to please the audience, the audiences for sure do not like watching too much rona dhona, they want to be entertained! i do not know what the end is going to be, right now their main concern is to get back the lost viewership...as for me personally i would want slb to keep the basic flavor same, but do not mind any addition of change of ingredients to enhance the flavor in favor of the tasting buds!

@hotdogg

Thanks hotdogg for such a comprehensive and well researched information about the TRP system and related issues. While I genuinely appreciate the worthy discussion going on here, I feel the we should leave the TRP worries on the makers and channel. I am very confident that after being in the business for so long they know the pulse of the Indian audience. I am sure SLB realises that daily soaps are a completely different ball game where he can not have kind of artistic liberty he can have in his films. Tracks and story lines will always be open to last minute changes and editing depending on what clicks with the audience. As far as selling the product as a tragic love story goes, there have been enough indications that can be considered positive.. The first promo of the show had SLB himself saying '' mukammal mohabbat ki adhoori dastaan, jald hogi poori star plus par'' I am sure a lot of thought has gone behind using that as the punch line to market their show. In todays internet age ,it doesnt take much for people to find out what Saraswatichandra is all about..the story line, characters etc.. I think so far we have already seen a lot of deviation from the original plot..the character sketches are also loosely based on the original novel. Like hotdogg said that Kumud was not the kind of bold, confident, fiery personality like she is being portrayed here..Even Nutan ji who played Kumud in the 1968 movie, didnt look like the Kumud Jennifer is portraying..Of whatever I saw of her in the movie, she looked like a docile and subdued character who would quietly surrender to her ill fate. Likewise, I feel none of the character have been lifted as it is..situations and circumstances have also been changed.. We need to be a bit patient and keep enjoying the way we are..thats all I am saying..TRP's will come with time..They did the necessary adjustments in the plot when the numbers didnt pick and yet maintained the quality.. I am sure they will do that in future too.. With such a talented team of actors and creative team, I am sure we will get to see great performances even with the crappiest of plots which will still be way better than what we see in other shows.

Originally posted by: vaishali-AR

Thanks hotdogg for such a comprehensive and well researched information about the TRP system and related issues. While I genuinely appreciate the worthy discussion going on here, I feel the we should leave the TRP worries on the makers and channel. I am very confident that after being in the business for so long they know the pulse of the Indian audience. I am sure SLB realises that daily soaps are a completely different ball game where he can not have kind of artistic liberty he can have in his films. Tracks and story lines will always be open to last minute changes and editing depending on what clicks with the audience. As far as selling the product as a tragic love story goes, there have been enough indications that can be considered positive.. The first promo of the show had SLB himself saying '' mukammal mohabbat ki adhoori dastaan, jald hogi poori star plus par'' I am sure a lot of thought has gone behind using that as the punch line to market their show. In todays internet age ,it doesnt take much for people to find out what Saraswatichandra is all about..the story line, characters etc.. I think so far we have already seen a lot of deviation from the original plot..the character sketches are also loosely based on the original novel. Like hotdogg said that Kumud was not the kind of bold, confident, fiery personality like she is being portrayed here..Even Nutan ji who played Kumud in the 1968 movie, didnt look like the Kumud Jennifer is portraying..Of whatever I saw of her in the movie, she looked like a docile and subdued character who would quietly surrender to her ill fate. Likewise, I feel none of the character have been lifted as it is..situations and circumstances have also been changed.. We need to be a bit patient and keep enjoying the way we are..thats all I am saying..TRP's will come with time..They did the necessary adjustments in the plot when the numbers didnt pick and yet maintained the quality.. I am sure they will do that in future too.. With such a talented team of actors and creative team, I am sure we will get to see great performances even with the crappiest of plots which will still be way better than what we see in other shows.

This is what I think guys.. no offence to anyone.. thanks again everyone for all the valuable information on TRPs.. specially hotdogg, Arshi, Smrth, Kadaal..and others.. :))

Amen..

Let's take it one step at a time...

Two good learnings for me personally after all this:

1) I am now able to really appreciate gautam & jennifer's talent...when they consistently deliver the sizzling chemistry...

...now that I know how much pressure they must be under...coz now everything depends on their particular scenes & love story track to take the trps up...amazing how they have been able to compartmentalize their concerns and deliver time and again...

Its easy to give super performances when the going is good...but to do so when you are walking on the edge of an abyss is an entirely different class altogether...

2) Will allow a longer rope to the makers when some inconsistencies creep in during this period...for the larger good of them being able to deliver a really different and unique TV show.


Can't wait for tomo's epi..