Article:TKTG completes 200 episodes

I n an age where shows are pulled off the air within a few months for non- performance, it's an achievement when a show completes 200 episodes. This Monday saw the family saga Thodi Khushi Thodi Gam (Sony) reach this target. For one who's achieved a 1000 episodes run for her earlier production Ek Mahal Hai Sapnon Ka, producer Shobhana Desai is modest; "The fear of being around makes me work hard to deliver a good show that entertains the viewers for 20 minutes every day. "Television is a growing industry in which the money and the turnover is huge. Though there's tough competition, no producer – big or small – will take it lightly when it comes to delivering a quality product." What was unique in the 200th episode? Desai says,, "Viewers are fed up of seeing festivals or weddings running across all shows on all channels for days at end. That's why I stuck to the plan of a party that reveals some mischief at the end." Do rumours of the show winding up affect her? "They're just that..rumours. The show is doing well." Launched on April 24 last year, Thodi Khushi Thodi Gam initially premiered at 9 30 pm and is now aired on the 8. 30 pm time slot. The storyline is about a joint family who still hold on to the age-old value system with the strong dominance of the patriarch Manshuklal Shah (Arvind Rathod). Desai is also producing Durgesh Nan- dinii (Sony). How is the show perform- ing? She remarks, "Sony has been asso- ciated with reality shows and viewers are of the notion that it's not a channel to sample fiction shows. Every show takes its time to settle." She is planning five shows this year and is even looking at films; "Television is like a factory. In all the rush for mass production, I must admit quality does suf- fer. But I'd never leave working in this medium."