Le ke Jayegi jaan...oops #Timeout|KuKu|KaVik|AT 4 Nt Pg129 - Page 26

@Pihu: Aha...I like. Some classical music my dad hasn't even heard. And he thinks I'm the weirdo. I like all kinds of music really. Ya what! Music bhi seekha...you're a very talented women. My only regret is that I don't have a singing voice and that I was never encouraged to learn as a kid.

@Meera: You're HC was so real! Sachi sachi batao, likhte ho na aap KuKu ke liye? I don't even think I need the show anymore.

Do they really analyse the way we do? I feel like after a certain point they imbibe the character (more out of habit) and the acting is just spontaneous. It's not that I don't want to give them credit but the amount of work, hours and then weird changes...? Maybe most of them just don't have the luxury in the mainstream TV space.

@sam and peace: I feel we're gonna be scr*wed either way. After the break, the race will be to get the highest rating so ⚰️...nevertheless, it will have been a great journey.

Originally posted by: aquaHP

Bhaisahab!!! Ye ladki gazab hai!! I love her concepts!! 👏👏

And also, finally, we have a VM for Kunal. Just Kunal.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B_A1uxyhLLL/?igshid=dcx37t9bly4w

I am literally not exaggerating when I say I started crying after I watched this. This editor never fails to amaze me over and over again with her work. I'm in awe. I have no words.

Originally posted by: PureDrivenSnow

@Meera: You're HC was so real! Sachi sachi batao, likhte ho na aap KuKu ke liye? I don't even think I need the show anymore.

Do they really analyse the way we do? I feel like after a certain point they imbibe the character (more out of habit) and the acting is just spontaneous. It's not that I don't want to give them credit but the amount of work, hours and then weird changes...? Maybe most of them just don't have the luxury in the mainstream TV space.

I wish that one of us wrote for KuKu. That would make my dreams come true 😭 But thank you! I think the only reason I can write dialogues for them so easily is because I can relate to the two of them a lot, so it's not hard at all for me to channel them. Unfortunately, this whole "channeling" process of mine can put me in quite a depressed mood sometimes.

I really want to think that they analyze their characters, especially when they find it hard to justify why their character's actions. But then again, even if they did analyze their characters to the greatest of extents, it's not like they'd be able to actually implement anything out of their own will. At the end of the day, the writers hold the pen and the production house and the channel hold the purse strings.

Originally posted by: Samanalyse

@Meera and Snow: Uff, thank you for making today thumri day on the AT. I have fully gone down a rabbit hole on YouTube following your original suggestions.

@Aqua: I think that is a wonderful idea, and I think it's totally acceptable ethically as long as you make it really clear to her/them that it is entirely up to them whether they want to answer the questions or not. Basically, say to them exactly what you expressed at the end of this post.

I think because this medium isn't taken very seriously, people don't tend to pay attention to the actors, crew, or writers, and the work they do, unlike what you have with film, Rajeev Masand's round tables being a great example. Speaking of RM's round tables, one of my absolute favourites was one he did with break through performers in 2018:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcqLAxz0lsg

They actually had such a beautiful conversation about their craft. At some point, RM asks Vikrant Massey and Pankaj Thripathi about working in television and really betrays how little he knows about the depth and diversity of the medium because he asks when people are going to stop making it all about saas-bahu. Vikrant then goes on to explain that people do try to branch out, but there is very little demand for critically acclaimed shows on GECs -- he cites a show Pankajji did called Powder as an example.

This really struck a chord with me because most of the shows I have followed have been the ones on the fringe of the medium, that are trying to do something different but fall prey to the ratings game. People love to damn Ekta and say she introduced regressive content on TV with the implied argument that if there was something better on offer, people wouldn't watch her shows or shows that follow that pattern. From my experience watching those better offers suffer for being more progressive/complex and invested in their characters and storylines, this is just categorically not true.

All this to say, I think it's about time we start talking about the work that goes into these shows, and taking what they are actually saying, and what connects to the audience way more seriously.

@Bold: It's a vicious cycle that needs to be broken. Frankly, there needs to be space for all sorts to exist without or with minimal channel interference or pressure of high ratings. A few years back we were getting a good mix of shows (the yrf shows and some others from smaller productions). I get the impression that the channels aren't giving that space any longer. The problem is, that the industry isn't collectively ready to put the effort in, as you say, to understand why the mainstream shows are so popular and progressive ones aren't. And so there's no work done to find better ways to tell stories.

I agree, clearly there's a lot going into these shows; the sets, the costumes, the number of artists. The production value has increased over time but the formulaic direction and writing remains the same.

P.s. I loved powder! Oh and Vikrant...☺️.

I love this interview -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMtlI1fZrOw

Sorry but Kaveri as Jasmine in that picture weirded me out kinda. But, i have to say, the editing is excellent!

Pihu, tfs the VM. Emotional hi kar diya. Seeing and reading Kunal all battered, bruised and broken today makes me just want to hug this fictional character so tight and never let go...okay ab kuch jyada hi ho gaya.

OMG! I just saw that VM on Instagram and it's pure brilliance 😲 This editor really gets these two and each of her edits are like analyses in themselves. As I commented there: Of the four, Kunal is the character least supported by the writing itself, but you string all these little moments together and you can clearly see this young man overburdened with responsibility and constantly struggling for support, guidance, and love. 💔

From all the tidbits in the interviews, it seems like the actors do have some freedom in how they want to execute scenes, so I get the sneaking feeling that Ritvik himself comes up with a lot of the tinier nuances that we pick up on to understand Kunal. And from his comments on Kuhu and Kunal, it does seem like he has really understood the characters. Kaveri also said she texts Ritvik when she sees their scenes on TV so it seems like these two actually study their performances. I don't know if this is the norm on ITV but it's certainly comforting to know how seriously these two take their jobs.

I just watched the interview of Smriti Irani and Sakshi Tanwar from Season 1 of Koffe with Karan (something I have been meaning to do for a while), and it was quite illuminating. Karan is very respectful and has intelligent questions to ask them about their process, he actually knows the shows (Kyunki and Kahani at the time), and I think it's one of the few interviews out there that take the medium itself seriously. Both of them are sort of heavy-handed in arguing that these soaps aren't regressive (which is obviously not true) but they do make some good points and the way they think about their characters and what they stand for is fascinating. It made me think about how we dismiss the work of the actors because the content is repetitive, but as Ranveer Singh said in that Anupama Chopra interview (thanks Aqua!), doing the mass entertainer, masala content is actually the most difficult.

Both an ITV actor I used to follow and Melissa Fumero (from B99) have said that working in a daily soap is like acting boot camp because you constantly have to be doing a variety of things at a moment's notice. You might be shooting a dance sequence, an intense breakdown, and a comedy scene all in the same day. It sort of calls into question how we understand and classify different kinds of media, and makes it all seem kind of arbitrary.

Originally posted by: Samanalyse

OMG! I just saw that VM on Instagram and it's pure brilliance 😲 This editor really gets these two and each of her edits are like analyses in themselves. As I commented there: Of the four, Kunal is the character least supported by the writing itself, but you string all these little moments together and you can clearly see this young man overburdened with responsibility and constantly struggling for support, guidance, and love. 💔

From all the tidbits in the interviews, it seems like the actors do have some freedom in how they want to execute scenes, so I get the sneaking feeling that Ritvik himself comes up with a lot of the tinier nuances that we pick up on to understand Kunal. And from his comments on Kuhu and Kunal, it does seem like he has really understood the characters. Kaveri also said she texts Ritvik when she sees their scenes on TV so it seems like these two actually study their performances. I don't know if this is the norm on ITV but it's certainly comforting to know how seriously these two take their jobs.

I just watched the interview of Smriti Irani and Sakshi Tanwar from Season 1 of Koffe with Karan (something I have been meaning to do for a while), and it was quite illuminating. Karan is very respectful and has intelligent questions to ask them about their process, he actually knows the shows (Kyunki and Kahani at the time), and I think it's one of the few interviews out there that take the medium itself seriously. Both of them are sort of heavy-handed in arguing that these soaps aren't regressive (which is obviously not true) but they do make some good points and the way they think about their characters and what they stand for is fascinating. It made me think about how we dismiss the work of the actors because the content is repetitive, but as Ranveer Singh said in that Anupama Chopra interview (thanks Aqua!), doing the mass entertainer, masala content is actually the most difficult.

Both an ITV actor I used to follow and Melissa Fumero (from B99) have said that working in a daily soap is like acting boot camp because you constantly have to be doing a variety of things at a moment's notice. You might be shooting a dance sequence, an intense breakdown, and a comedy scene all in the same day. It sort of calls into question how we understand and classify different kinds of media, and makes it all seem kind of arbitrary.

Ditto to everything you said, Sam! I do feel that it wouldn't be a completely inaccurate prediction if I were to say that I think that over time, ITV will start producing shows that focus a lot more on character development and unique plotlines. They're already trending in that direction now itself, in an attempt to appeal to younger generations as well (Nisha Aur Uske Cousins, Ek Duje Ke Vaaste, Ek Hasina Thi, Reporters, Kuch Toh Hai Tere Mere Darmiyaan, etc). I've always gravitated more towards web series and finite ITV shows, because those are the stories that tell the most in a short amount of time. So I wouldn't be surprised if that's the trend that ITV tries to take on in the future.

That being said, actors that choose to work in a medium for which the overwhelmingly popular opinion is "this content is repetitive and boring" have to work way harder for their work to be truly appreciated, not just their looks. And that's why I love Kaveri and Ritvik. I'm sure they may not always like the direction in which the show takes their characters, but they take their performance and their work so seriously that they manage to make unconvincing tracks extremely convincing.

@ Snow: Jim Sarbh is one of my favorites. You can tell how passionate he is about the work he does, and the artistry he puts into all of the projects he takes on. Listening to him always gives me huge insight into what it's like to work in the performing arts.

Originally posted by: PureDrivenSnow

@Bold: It's a vicious cycle that needs to be broken. Frankly, there needs to be space for all sorts to exist without or with minimal channel interference or pressure of high ratings. A few years back we were getting a good mix of shows (the yrf shows and some others from smaller productions). I get the impression that the channels aren't giving that space any longer. The problem is, that the industry isn't collectively ready to put the effort in, as you say, to understand why the mainstream shows are so popular and progressive ones aren't. And so there's no work done to find better ways to tell stories.

I agree, clearly there's a lot going into these shows; the sets, the costumes, the number of artists. The production value has increased over time but the formulaic direction and writing remains the same.

Definitely! Unfortunately, I think TV has actually gotten worse since that interview because the internet exploded as a new platform between then and now. Now there's even less experimentation and everyone is sort of in their own silos. The internet has the more intellectual/intense and urban content, Sony is the only channel that still does niche content in the daily soap format (that I know of) and all the other channels seem to be leaning heavily into old wine in new bottles. I am always interested in where those lines are blurred, which is where Kuku fit in, but there has been much less of that blurring of late.

@bold: Exactly -- the primary concern seems to be ROI so they'll produce whatever content promises that. What continues to intrigue me though, and what we rarely hear about, is the specific work of all the different cast and crew members. I remember when I first read the Zoya Factor by Anuja Chauhan, what really stuck with me was all the insight into the advertising industry. The show Kahan Hum Kahan Tum showed a lot of potential to shed similar light on the TV industry but unfortunately that didn't pan out. 🤔

Originally posted by: Samanalyse

Definitely! Unfortunately, I think TV has actually gotten worse since that interview because the internet exploded as a new platform between then and now. Now there's even less experimentation and everyone is sort of in their own silos. The internet has the more intellectual/intense and urban content, Sony is the only channel that still does niche content in the daily soap format (that I know of) and all the other channels seem to be leaning heavily into old wine in new bottles. I am always interested in where those lines are blurred, which is where Kuku fit in, but there has been much less of that blurring of late.

@Bold: Do you mean "Rishta wahi, Soch nayi"???🤭😂😂

I'm sorry! I had to! 🙈

Also, update on my VM career (that's the reason I am not replying right now and also, why I am not asleep at 3am. My sleep cycle has become poora ulta after joining IF): I finished the basic tutorial i.e. 2 lessons out of 16 from the introductory training module😱 so I thought I'll try my hand at making the 1st one. Sapne to bohot bade bade sajaaye hain but sach honge ya nahi is the question🤞🏼.

EDIT: Nahi aata jitna socha tha. How do you align scenes to lyrics without cutting them off completely??

Re. Interview videos: I haven't seen the Jim sarbh one😮. Adding it to my watchlist! He is such an awesome actor! Has anyone seen 'Made in Heaven'? It's brilliant!! So so good! I fell in love with Shashank Arora's character (videographer/photographer) in that show.

Sam, that FC video made me want to watch regional movies and the only time I have seen regional movies has been when I was on a bus travelling between cities. Not saying that they're bad or anything, just that I haven't given those movies a chance because I didn't want to read subtitles the whole time. But regional cinema in India is so much more experimental and free with their content. They have much more freedom to explore.

Indian TV and bollywood essentially follow a similar route. They keep making content based on a set formula. Digital platforms have become the game changers but I fear that they won't have as much freedom in near future with the way the censor board in this country works. I really hope the digital platforms bring about a change in the content on TV rather than being sucked in the formula based vortex of regressive content.

Re. Kunal VM: The creator has done a fab job of conveying Kunal's emotions. I agree with whoever mentioned this about Ritvik and Kaveri analysing and working as hard as they do. (Sorry, I don't remember who it was). I think it comes with the territory of being newcomers for them. All the other actors are seasoned in their craft. They've worked for quite a long time and have this created their own process but these 2 are still in their learning phase and I think that's where their bonding and analysis of their own performance comes in. I love the fact that they put in the amount of effort that they do!

Originally posted by: aquaHP

@Bold: Do you mean "Rishta wahi, Soch nayi"???🤭😂😂

I'm sorry! I had to! 🙈

That's the real tea, sis *slurps tea loudly* ☕️😗