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For long the CVs and us too, have been believing the myth that there are two sections of viewers - the TRP viewers, the ones we so derisively call the TRP aunties, and the "thinking" viewers - the ones which flock the forums and critically evaluate their work.
The views and opinions of the online viewers have been taken with a pinch of salt, as the PHs have felt that while they do give a kind of feedback, the real moolah comes from the TRP aunty and hence these views can be disregarded.
The TRP aunties have always been assumed to be brain dead and non thinking and will accept any trash, infact the trashier the better.
They revel in return from the dead, doosri shadis, scheming saas and plotting bahu, and the kitchen politics.
But two experiences have actually busted that myth, one is of the show EMA, where when the ek Muthi aasman changed to ek balti kachra, the entire online viewership rejected it, demanded a change.
The PH went ahead with what they thought appeals to the TRP aunties, fired the lead actress and brought it another, but couldn't salvage the show, the TRPs tanked now it's curtains for EMA.
Second is of course the example of our beloved show Saraswatichandra. For a long long time we have been complaining about the story, or rather a lack of it and how the show which was supposed to be about the deep divine love that Saras and Kumud share, has been about anything but that.
We have been talking very negatively about the repeated track of Saras and Kumud getting embroiled in doosri teesri shadi, after pramaad, we had kusum, then jugnu, then Prashant then Arti... In the name of showing their love, all we have been getting is them inspite of being married, sometimes forcibly, other times willingly, entering into a second marriage, and pulling out at the last minute.
While the first time it happened, - Kumud married pramaad - refused to divorce pramaad - we cried for them, second time it happened - Kumud forced Saras to marry kusum - we ranted and showed our anger.
Third time we were annoyed, fourth time we were sarcastic with Prashant, fifth time we just ridiculed it, now we just don't care, with Arti part of me was saying, go on Saras, marry her, this will end all this natak of your and Kumud's pyaar for good.
We know that if the show continues we will only get a repeat of Saras and Kumud ki almost shadis, and have already become very blas about it.
I think all our cribs were not taken very seriously by the PH and CH, because they seemed to believe that the TRP aunties love this and want to see only all this trash.
And now that the so called TRP aunties have also rejected this track and there aren't any takers for it, the show is ending.
Goes to prove that there aren't two sections of viewers, that will viewers want the same thing. And that is a good story that sticks to the basics and does not deviate from the original.
That each show attracts a certain viewer base and they hate it when what they were promised is diluted and the story is abandoned for the sake of cheap TRP tricks.
The truth of the matter is that each show attracts it's viewer base based on its USP and while the viewership of off beat stories like Saraswatichandra may not ever equal SNS, or other saas bahu shows, it is a significantly large and it is loyal and passionate about the show.
It is also quite committed and will stick by the show till the end, provided the show sticks to its core principles till the end
By trying to make it another rehash of a saas bahu show the makers have lost this viewership, and have not attracted the saas bahu viewers who are very happy with SNS thank you.
And so another potentially great show meets a shoddy end, because the makers refused to Understand their viewers, refused to read and act upon the feedback that we have been giving, assuming that since we are not TRP audience, our feedback doesn't reflect the mass base.
Now I hope the channel and production houses realise that all viewers want the same thing, that there is no distinction between TRP and non TRP viewers, that if a feedback is coming repeatedly, it reflects the entire viewer base.
Ufff Yeh Love Hai Mushkil
Jhanak
Bigg Boss 19
Bade Achche Lagte Hain Naya Season
