Sony pulls the plug on Rihhaee | |||
After weeks of dithering, Sony has finally decided to wind up its woman-centric bi-weekly Rihhaee. The show should be off air by mid-September, say sources.
Begun as the 'female equivalent' of BAG Films' successful series on Sahara Haqeeqat, Rihhaee started as a promising offbeat show in February this year. Touted as 'television with cause', Rihhaee's New Delhi launch was attended by Delhi CM Shiela Dixit, social activist Nafisa Ali and activist lawyer Indira Jaisingh, all of whom pointed out how crimes against women is on the rise in the Indian society and need to be tackled urgently, but delicately because of the sensitivities involved. Nevertheless, encouraged by the initial good response to the serial, producers BAG Films started a 24 hour helpline for women, setting up the infrastructure in its Mumbai office, and even had the support of the National Commission for Women, in July.
Poor ratings, sources inform, have become the reason the show will have a premature death on the channel. While Rihhaee could never have commanded a mass audience, given its content, it had the potential of building Sony's record of experimental serials like Bhanvar and Missing. |