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Why seasons for fiction shows don't work in India
Pratigya is one of the shows hoping to return with season 2
Seasons are the norm abroad but are a rarity on Indian television. Except for reality shows, no series has been able to work around a seasonal format. That just might change this year, with several off-air shows in talks for second seasons. Buzz is 'Mann Kee Awaaz...Pratigya', 'Dil Se Di Dua... Saubhagyavati', 'Saas Bina Sasural', 'The Buddy Project' and 'Kuch Toh Log Kahenge' are all pitching for a second go. Channels, however, are taking time to decide as they're not entirely convinced.
Channels are sceptical going by the track record of past serials ' Baa Bahoo Baby, Kitani Mohabbat Hai and Chhoti Bahu ' that did not deliver consistent Television Rating Points (TRPs) during their second season. Even the ongoing Na Bole Tum Na Maine Kuch Kaha's new season has yet to make an impact on the TRP charts.
So, why doesn't the seasonal format for fiction shows work here? Serials on Indian television do not have a fixed run and usually go on and on as long as the channel will let it, to the point where ratings hit rock-bottom. "How can you expect viewers to wait for a second season when they've got so bored of the first? A show should end when it is still popular and then audiences will naturally wait for part two. Our channels need to understand this simple mantra," says a producer, on condition of anonymity.
Abroad, where the concept of seasonal fiction shows work, the episode-run is always pre-decided, be it 12 or 21 episodes. It's, of course, possible because they are weekly shows, unlike in India, where daily soaps dominate the scene. As producer Saurabh Tewari notes, "In the daily soap scenario, it's very difficult for the seasonal format to work. In India, seasons work only in the case of non-fiction shows, because they last for a fixed period. But, in the case of fiction, the only thought is how to make the show run for at least a thousand episodes. That's the way the broadcasting business works here."
Producer Suzana Ghai says, "Fiction seasons can work if they are planned the way shows are planned abroad. But they need to be written keeping in mind that it is a limited season and has to be left on a high note, so the audience returns for the next season."
Tewari offers another solution: "Programming should be divided into two categories: weekday and weekend content. Daily soaps could run Monday-Thursday, while seasonal fiction shows can be tried out on weekends. In the US and other countries, when daily soaps like The Bold & The Beautiful ran for years, they had other shows that were seasonal. It's about balancing both."
Channels are sceptical going by the track record of past serials ' Baa Bahoo Baby, Kitani Mohabbat Hai and Chhoti Bahu ' that did not deliver consistent Television Rating Points (TRPs) during their second season. Even the ongoing Na Bole Tum Na Maine Kuch Kaha's new season has yet to make an impact on the TRP charts.
So, why doesn't the seasonal format for fiction shows work here? Serials on Indian television do not have a fixed run and usually go on and on as long as the channel will let it, to the point where ratings hit rock-bottom. "How can you expect viewers to wait for a second season when they've got so bored of the first? A show should end when it is still popular and then audiences will naturally wait for part two. Our channels need to understand this simple mantra," says a producer, on condition of anonymity.
Abroad, where the concept of seasonal fiction shows work, the episode-run is always pre-decided, be it 12 or 21 episodes. It's, of course, possible because they are weekly shows, unlike in India, where daily soaps dominate the scene. As producer Saurabh Tewari notes, "In the daily soap scenario, it's very difficult for the seasonal format to work. In India, seasons work only in the case of non-fiction shows, because they last for a fixed period. But, in the case of fiction, the only thought is how to make the show run for at least a thousand episodes. That's the way the broadcasting business works here."
Producer Suzana Ghai says, "Fiction seasons can work if they are planned the way shows are planned abroad. But they need to be written keeping in mind that it is a limited season and has to be left on a high note, so the audience returns for the next season."
Tewari offers another solution: "Programming should be divided into two categories: weekday and weekend content. Daily soaps could run Monday-Thursday, while seasonal fiction shows can be tried out on weekends. In the US and other countries, when daily soaps like The Bold & The Beautiful ran for years, they had other shows that were seasonal. It's about balancing both."
Telly soaps gear up for their seasonal return
A still from Na Bole Tum Na...Season 2
Indian television sees a phenomenal change as various soaps are heading for seasonal stints
Fictional shows spinning across various seasons is nothing new for English GECs and in most cases they have successfully retained their audiences. But when it comes to Indian television, though most reality shows have successfully had numerous seasons, fiction shows were unable to garner similar kind of popularity in their subsequent seasonal runs.
Undeterred by the not so successful seasonal returns of Kitani Mohabbat Hai, Baa Bahoo Aur Baby, and Chhoti Bahu, some fiction shows are headed for a second season this year. While Na Bole Tum Na Maine Kuchh Kaha's second season is already on air and is grabbing average TRPs, shows like The Serial, Mann Ki Aawaz...Pratigya, Dil Se Di Dua...Saubhagyavati Bhav?, Saas Bina Sasural and Kuch Toh Log Kahenge are planning their second innings. This reinforces the fact that 2013 is likely to be the year of comebacks of previous successful shows.
So are Indian audiences ready for second seasons of daily soaps? Prem Kamath, EVP of a fiction channel shares, "Very rarely do fiction shows have fresh seasons. Indian television soaps often drag on for years and end on a meaningless note with low TRPs. So, if producers plan to bring back fresh seasons of fiction shows, there's no reason why audiences won't accept the change. Seasons of fiction shows will surely work."
But it will be a challenging proposition to create a new seasons for a fiction show, considering the Indian audience are still not familiar with this concept. Producer Sudhir Sharma, whose Na Bole Tum... has just been launched in its second season shares, "The idea behind a fresh season of any fiction show is that there is a lot left to explore in the story and audiences identify with the storyline and characters. If Season 1 gets appreciated and the next season is planned well, it can work. Planning a Season 2 is a huge responsibility. But who says people don't know the concept of seasons in India? If it is handled well, it is a relatable concept."
So what do actors who have been part of previous stints say about new seasons of fiction shows? Pooja Gor, whose Mann Ki Awaz... Pratigya is going to have a second season soon, says, "I am happy to be part of the second season of Pratigya. The story of the first season was much appreciated so, it's a good idea to have a second season of a successful show."
Karanvir Bohra, whose Dil Se Di Dua... is also slated for a seasonal return towards the middle of the year, says, "I'm very excited with the idea. The concept of seasons in fiction shows should work as people do relate to some characters from previous seasons. It is good for a successful show to take a break and come back with a crisper and better storyline rather than dragging a meaningless storyline."
As some telly soaps gear up for their seasonal return in 2013 ' TRPs will be the deciding factor to indicate whether the change is accepted wholeheartedly or not.
Fictional shows spinning across various seasons is nothing new for English GECs and in most cases they have successfully retained their audiences. But when it comes to Indian television, though most reality shows have successfully had numerous seasons, fiction shows were unable to garner similar kind of popularity in their subsequent seasonal runs.
Undeterred by the not so successful seasonal returns of Kitani Mohabbat Hai, Baa Bahoo Aur Baby, and Chhoti Bahu, some fiction shows are headed for a second season this year. While Na Bole Tum Na Maine Kuchh Kaha's second season is already on air and is grabbing average TRPs, shows like The Serial, Mann Ki Aawaz...Pratigya, Dil Se Di Dua...Saubhagyavati Bhav?, Saas Bina Sasural and Kuch Toh Log Kahenge are planning their second innings. This reinforces the fact that 2013 is likely to be the year of comebacks of previous successful shows.
So are Indian audiences ready for second seasons of daily soaps? Prem Kamath, EVP of a fiction channel shares, "Very rarely do fiction shows have fresh seasons. Indian television soaps often drag on for years and end on a meaningless note with low TRPs. So, if producers plan to bring back fresh seasons of fiction shows, there's no reason why audiences won't accept the change. Seasons of fiction shows will surely work."
But it will be a challenging proposition to create a new seasons for a fiction show, considering the Indian audience are still not familiar with this concept. Producer Sudhir Sharma, whose Na Bole Tum... has just been launched in its second season shares, "The idea behind a fresh season of any fiction show is that there is a lot left to explore in the story and audiences identify with the storyline and characters. If Season 1 gets appreciated and the next season is planned well, it can work. Planning a Season 2 is a huge responsibility. But who says people don't know the concept of seasons in India? If it is handled well, it is a relatable concept."
So what do actors who have been part of previous stints say about new seasons of fiction shows? Pooja Gor, whose Mann Ki Awaz... Pratigya is going to have a second season soon, says, "I am happy to be part of the second season of Pratigya. The story of the first season was much appreciated so, it's a good idea to have a second season of a successful show."
Karanvir Bohra, whose Dil Se Di Dua... is also slated for a seasonal return towards the middle of the year, says, "I'm very excited with the idea. The concept of seasons in fiction shows should work as people do relate to some characters from previous seasons. It is good for a successful show to take a break and come back with a crisper and better storyline rather than dragging a meaningless storyline."
As some telly soaps gear up for their seasonal return in 2013 ' TRPs will be the deciding factor to indicate whether the change is accepted wholeheartedly or not.
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