Hindi Serials - the evolution of serials to have mass market appeal

Hindi serials have so far been considered the poorer cousin of Hindi films. The sheer scale of Hindi films is hard to duplicate for its lesser counterpart. Films have also been around longer and have been a part of popular culture much before television even came into existence. Since its inception films have mirrored (or at least tried to) the realities of life. They have often been the repository of middle class values and beliefs. Thus while cinema in 50s and 60s talked about post independence hope and social reconstruction, the angry young man theme of the 70s and 80s reflected the growing angst and post 90s there has been a steady increase in candy floss movies and those that target the NRI segment.

As movies in the twenty first century became more and more urban and metropolitan in its theme and characterisation, the smaller cities, towns and bigger villages turned to television to seek out values and themes that talked to them in their own lingo. In fact it can be safely said that television since its inception has been the medium for the average, middle-middle class, semi-urban and even rural Indian. Take for example Hum Log. The first blockbuster (borrowing a ‘filmy’ parlance) Hindi serial, it depicted the lives of a typical lower middle class Indian family. Buniyaad that followed in its wake talked of a family that faces the trauma of partition and then seeks to rebuild an identity for itself. Here again, the characters were very real, their conflicts, believable.

As television witnessed its first revolution in the form of private channels, there was a change in the grammar of story telling but not in the broader themes of the basic story. Thus Sailab, Zee TV’s first mega hit serial broached the issue of extra-marital affairs but in a very conventional tone. The straying partners returned to their respective spouses seeking forgiveness. Star Plus’ super successful serial X also talked about the same issue keeping in mind the middle class perspective. Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi and Kahaani Ghar Ghar Ki, two serials that dominated the Hindi serial market, despite having rich settings, talked of essentially middle class values and ethics.

With the birth of multiplexes and the death of single screens film have become increasingly expensive and urban in its stance. In films, the conventional middle class institutions and norms are fast disappearing. Take for example, a film like Love Aaj Kal where in the focus is entirely on the two lead characters. Deepika’s character’s family gets a blink and you miss kind of presence while Saif’s family is not even given that due. Serials on the other hand have taken up the cause for the middle class India. Thus institutions like joint families are serenaded (Yeh Risht Kya Kehe Lata Hai) and values like sacrifice and selflessness upheld and individualism condemned in Hindi serials. As Hindi films seek out a global audience, Hindi serials are happy to touch the lives of those millions who travel by bus and local train and for whom an INR 200 ticket is a luxury and not a necessity.

Two for the price of one - New Trend developed in Television Industry !

Of late serials have developed the trend of either doing overlapping episodes where the story of two different serials are brought to a common point or where popular characters from one serial do special appearances. A few days back, Star Plus’s prime time serials, Bidaai and Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai had one such common journey where Naitik and Akshara (lead pair of Yeh Rishta…) and Alekh and Sadhna (Bidai) had an interesting run in. But why do channels and producers indulge in such gimmicks? Where is the need to bring two divergent story lines on to a similar track?

The obvious advantage is that of time. The extended time limit (normally daily serials run for half an hour) helps to heighten the drama and gives more freedom to the writers to play around with different ideas. It helps to build a buzz around both the serials and thus increase audience interest quotient. Then again it brings in combined viewership, meaning, that those who watch only Yeh Rishta…and those who watch only Bidaai will have to watch both for that special episode in order to stay abreast with developments. And one might never know a non-viewer might be tempted to follow the serial that he/she had not been following because of the parallel track. So it helps to increase or supplement TRPs. Thus it turns out to be a win-win situation for the makers of the respective shows- as it helps to add more drama and generate more eyeballs.

The other popular trend is to make stars of a popular show perform at a special occasion for another show. Very soon, we will get to see Manav and Archana (Pavitra Rishta) perform for Choti Bahu. In an earlier episode, Laali (Agle Janam Mohe Bitiya Hi Ki Jo) had performed for the same show. Choti Bahu’s lead actors Dev (Avinash Sachdev) and Radhika (Rubaina Dalaik) have a lot to celebrate. They will soon be going off for their long pending abroad after Radhika’s burn marks are completely cured. Manav and Archana will be seen performing at a family celebration.

Such special appearances and guest acts help to generate a certain amount of bonhomie after long days of misery in serials. Most of the time the guest actors dance to popular Hindi film songs and this helps to lighten the dramatic quotient. It also helps to strengthen the particular image of the guest actors. Thus Manav and Archana’s performance is meant as a signal for the audience that these two will remain a couple come what may. It helps to reaffirm popular conceptions about particular characters. But in both cases, audiences have no reason to complain as for them it is value for time and money as it two for the price (and time) of one.

Zee TV's Lil Champs a very watched show

Who’s the bigger star on Indian Television?

‘Hero Honda Sa Re Ga Ma Pa L’il Champs’ is the undisputed leaders when it comes to audiences’ choice

Mumbai, 23rd September 2009 - In a period where Bollywood superstars like Salman Khan and Akshay Kumar are reigning the Indian television with their participation on various reality shows, Zee TV’s L’il Champs have found their way to people’s hearts and are the undisputed leaders when it comes to their popularity. The latest TAM data shows that the number of viewers watching the show have far surpassed than those watching other star-studded reality shows on other channels.

According to the TAM data, the show started with the 3.47 million people watching the episodes during the launch which has recently gone up to 4.4 million in the past week. This further validates that the popularity of ‘Hero Honda Sa Re Ga Ma Pa L’il Champs’ has been soaring ever-since its launch gathering further eyeballs.

In just three months of the launch, Zee TV’s Hero Honda Sa Re Ga Ma Pa L’il Champs has created stars of the kids who are not more than 14 years old. According to Mr. Nitin Vaidya, COO, ZEEL and Business Head, Zee TV, “it’s the spontaneity, innocence and charm of these kids that have grabbed audiences’ attention and have garnered tremendous love for themselves amongst the viewers. Introducing Afsha and Dhairya (the 6 & 10 years old anchors of the show) was one of the biggest innovations on the show and today both of them along-with the participants have become the topic of discussion in every household today.”

Mr. Vaidya, further added, “We always believed that television is not about popular movie stars but about creating its own stars. It’s particularly overwhelming in the case of L’il Champs as these tiny tots have not only impressed the audiences with their exceptional talent but have become their favorites. To beat film stars’ popularity, in a country where Bollywood is followed as a religion, is a huge achievement by itself.”