MUMBAI:Amanat,
the show that had pride of place in Zee's programming and led one
of the longest and most popular runs on Indian television, winds to
a full stop today.
The
last episode of the saga of a father bringing up seven daughters single
handedly will be telecast today. Directed by Sanjiv Bhattacharya and
later by his wife, Sapna, Amanat that began in 1997, was able
to hook viewers with its sentimental storyline of a close knit family
that faces a stream of trials and tribulations. It was Amanat
which, rival Star admitted much later, that had a relatable backdrop
and an identifiable narrative, was socially correct and portrayed
some cherished emotions - elements that that were later incorporated
into the making of successes like Kyunkii… and Kahaani….
Amanat
held its own in subsequent years on prime time, at one time notching
TRPs as high as 19, says Bhattacharya. Post 2000, however, the weekly
serial was, along with the other popular Zee serial Koshish,
a victim of the Kaun Banega Crorepati onslaught. Although Bhatttacharya
says she intended to wind up the serial last year itself, Amanat continued
at the channel's behest.
In May
2002, the channel again asked Bhattacharya to fast forward the storyline
20 years, in a bid to woo back a declining viewership. Finally, a
decision was taken to end the serial gracefully in the first week
of September. The medium budget serial was able to establish a rapport
with viewers, says Bhattacharya, as it portrayed every day Indian
life and Indian culture in a way other serials did not.
Amanat
in fact proved to be a stepping-stone for Gracy Singh, one of the
sisters in Amanat, who later bagged the lead role in Aamir Khan's
Lagaan.
The
last episode of the saga of a father bringing up seven daughters single
handedly will be telecast today. Directed by Sanjiv Bhattacharya and
later by his wife, Sapna, Amanat that began in 1997, was able
to hook viewers with its sentimental storyline of a close knit family
that faces a stream of trials and tribulations. It was Amanat
which, rival Star admitted much later, that had a relatable backdrop
and an identifiable narrative, was socially correct and portrayed
some cherished emotions - elements that that were later incorporated
into the making of successes like Kyunkii… and Kahaani….
