WANNABE A BALAJI WRITER COND. ARTICLE

So you wannabe a Balaji writer?

It is not an easy task to spearhead saas- bahu shows. Or not as easy as you thought(BIGGEST JOKE OF THE DECADE...). At Balaji, the task of selecting creative heads for shows is taken rather seriously. "It's a very demanding job and one needs to be extremely responsible," says Nivedita Basu, deputy creative head of Balaji. The company conducts a test every three to four months across various cities, as they did recently. And just to let you know what it takes to be a writer on Balaji shows, we got a copy of the examination paper (see box). Says Basu, "It's not only the test that they have to appear for. They have to get involved in the creative discussions and suggestions that we have in our meetings as well. Those who are finally selected are well taken care of by the company. We've had three tests in the last one year in Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai. The ones who clear the tests are brought to Mumbai for a formal training. We take care of accommodation and other expenses. He or she is here on our expense. Of course, this isn't applicable for guys who live in Mumbai."

What kind of money does a creative head draw? "It varies," shrugs Basu, "A senior person draws much more than a fresher."

She adds, "Selecting the right person is difficult as most of them cannot deal with the pressures of a daily show. Television is a medium that you cannot play around with. We have a high attrition rate as people can't tackle pressure. They cannot handle the working hours and the tantrums thrown by the celebrities."