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While talks are still on for a multi-serial offering from new entrant
into the television production business K Sera Sera, what is definitely
in the pipeline are two sitcoms. Within a fortnight, K Sera Sera
will begin shooting for two shows - one a weekly and one a daily
- Aao Behan Chugli Karein (ABCK) and Kuch Kuch Kabhie
Kabhie (K4). These two are expected to be the first of a number
of new shows to be built around the 8 pm band that will focus on
comedy.
With a prime-time face lift its top priority, the channel is all
set to start rolling out other programmes to buttress the segment
as well. The change will be jumpstarted by the much talked about
Sahib Biwi Gulam in the last week of April, probably on 28
April. Following the Bimal Mitra creation, the channel will air
thriller specialist B P Singh's Raat Hone Ko Hai and Cinevistaas'
Saathiya - Pyar Ka Naya Ehsaas.
While the new programme list seems to be a good mix of all genre,
the channel's focus is on comedy next. According to Sahara's programming
vice president Triptii Sharma, "We already have a heady mix
of programmes slotted for the year ahead, but we are also very keen
on building up 8 pm comedy band. Both ABCK and K4 are
the first of many that we plan to launch this year."
Speaking to indiantelevision.com K Sera Sera managing director Parag
Sanghavi offered, "Right now we are co-producing three serials
with Girish Mallik's Clapstem production house. The first one to
roll out will be a weekly sitcom ABCK. We start shooting
for that from the first week of April. The shooting schedule for
the next daily sitcom- K4, scheduled to launch in first week
of June, will begin in the second week of April."
Elaborating on other projects that were being worked on with Sahara,
Sanghvi said, "We have been commissioned to make 10 telemovies,
of which two films are ready for release. We are also in the process
of signing a 10-serial contract."
Says Clapstem founder Girish Mallik about ABCK, "It
is a humourous look at upper class and upper middle class women."
Boasting of an all-women star cast including Kamini Khanna, Anita
Kanwal, Shruti Ulfat Bhavna Balsaveer, Loveleen Mishra, and Himani
Shivpuri, the serial revolves around the lives of six 'kitty' friends.
Although a similar subject is already on Zee (Manish Goswami's Kittie
Party- which is about eight friends), Mallik insists that there
cannot be comparisons made between the two.
"For starters, just have a look at the name! It is a humourous
look at the lives of these six avid gossipmongers, who incidentally
go around claiming that gossiping isn't for them. Ranging from the
innocent gossiper to some one whose sole aim is to hear and spread
gossip, we have them all. It is what we call 'black-gown' humour."
The producer-director of Sahara's soon to be off air patriotic
show Mission Fateh, Mallik aims to take on the soap and drama
staple of Hindi entertainment television head-on. "Indian audiences
are mature enough to look beyond soapy-soppy sagas. After all we
have had Tara, Rishtey and Banegi apni baat in the
recent past."
While ABCK tackles the upper-crust problems with humour,
K4 puts fun back into the term dysfunctional. Having roped
in three newcomers, the daily is based on fictional tale of three
school friends. Armed with skewed ideas about romance and men, the
trio have their quirky share of romance. The main protagonist Leena
has a 9-9 relationship with a married man twice her age, Pooja is
in love with two men and Vartika is all set to marry the only guy
who is ready and available since she hasn't managed to find Mr Right.
In due course, all three realise their follies. There isn't an iota
of vulgarity or melodrama in the serial, insists Mallik.
Interesting as these concepts sound, when queried about the shows'
commercial prospects, Mallik offered, "Although either of them
might not top the charts owing to the channel's current position,
looking at the direction in which Sahara is moving, that could soon
change." Mallik even added that both Sony and Zee were keen
on K4, but Sahara was the one that booked the concept even
before the pilot was shot.
Will the good times roll for Sahara...? If it can translate these
good concepts into watchable fare, they just might.
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