C.I.D hasn't been hogging the limelight with double-digit TVR figures, but its consistent presence week-after-week is an indicator that it has a loyal following even after five years of being on-air. What is heartening is that at a time when elaborate family dramas continue to occupy viewer mindspace, this is one show among very few others that has bucked the trend with its consistent viewership.

C.I.D has been produced by B P Singh and Pradeep Uppoor of Fireworks Productions. Singh has also directed the serial.

indiantelevision.com's Vickey Lalwani caught up with B P Singh for an interview. Excerpts:

How did 'C.I.D' begin its journey?
It just happened. There was no survey, no homework. There was only passion. In those days, there was no trend unlike today, when we have a certain trend of family dramas. Almost any and every family drama seem to have some viewership, even though it may not achieve scaling heights. I don't think there's any family drama which has fallen flat on its face in recent times. To say it in one line, C.I.D was not a time-tested formula. Actually, I had made six episodes of the show even before Sony Entertainment Television saw the light of day.

Could you elaborate on that?
I had made six episodes in 1986. Sony began in 1994. Going back, I started my career in 1973 in Doordarshan. I was a news camera-man and handled the camera for about 10 years. Thereafter, I started getting an urge to break free. I thought I could see the scenes from a different and maybe better perspective. I asked Doordarshan if they were interested in serialising some detective stories. I started doing some groundwork by meeting some detectives, etc.

I made a film called Sirf Char Din - a murder mystery - which was relayed on Doordarshan. Then I produced Ek Shunya Shunya for Doordarshan again. That time, it was the third best thing happening. Ramayana had a TRP of 84, followed by Udaan having 83, followed by Ek Shunya Shunya registering 75. Then I made a few Marathi serials for Doordarshan. Then, Sony happened. Those days, the satellite channel invasion was being talked about a lot. I thought, let me do something on satellite channels. During my days at Doordarshan, I had started with C.I.D.

No homework, no survey earlier alright. But surely there must be some planning at least today on how to avoid the show from slipping down? I mean, are there any dos and donts that you follow?
The storyline is always to be kept simple with the case solved over two episodes. That gives it that edginess, plus the twists and turns built into the plot add a great degree of value. Think of it, this is one reason from day one why C.I.D. is so successful. Actually, this whole milieu of the unfolding of a case is something that the audience relates to. Indian audiences have a certain attachment to suspense-led shows. The way in which a story progresses or a case is resolved has always intrigued them.

Coming to the donts, which also have added a great degree of value. A decision has been made that we will not show any blood, or violence against women and children. This is another reason why C.I.D. is so successful. Despite the fact that the show depicts the police and criminals, a large section of children view this programme. A parent does not mind his kid watching C.I.D, but may raise his voice when it comes to seeing some other thrillers. This makes the show family oriented, thereby increasing the target audience.

But why only thrillers from you? Say, even your other show 'Achanak 37 Saal Baad' or 'Aahat'...
(Interrupts) I have had a great fascination for thrillers, ever since I tried my hand at Sirf Char Din. While preparing for that film, I used to visit the Crime Branch. I had a friend, Inspector Jayant Wagle. During those visits, I interacted with many officials there. Plus, I was intrigued by the goings-on on the cases coming for detection, the style of the detectives, their modus operandi. I also started reading some detective novels written by Shrikant Sinkar. His writing was very live, I would feel that the case was happening before me. All these things got into me, and I started toying with the idea that I wanted to make a detective TV serial one day.

Is it easy or difficult to get new whodunit plots on regular basis?
It is very difficult. Actually if you read any of my plots before they are shot, you would term those as madness. Sometimes, it's just a line- Somebody is found dead, who is the killer? The secret lies in how it is shot. The interrogation process has to be very intriguing, the chases have to be very realistic, above all there have to be three or four distinct and strong suspects so that the audience keeps debating, guessing or laying bets on.

Why don't you take ideas from real life incidents?
C.I.D is not a reality show. If I was to put a real incident into a visual, I would not be able to put drama into it. The entertainment factor, which I think is very vital to keep anything going, would be lost. I would be bounded by limitations. Plus, I might get into social and legal problems. Do I want that? Certainly not.

Didn't you ever get tempted by any chilling real-life incident?
(Smiles) Even if I did, I managed to ward off the temptation. Doosre ki chita pe, chappati nahin banani chahiye (One should not make rotis over someone's ashes).

You focus a lot on forensic techniques. How true are these?
Well, quite a few of the tests we show are real. At the same time, we do show some imaginative instruments and tests. Cinematic liberties, you may call it. But you will be surprised to know there are some tests we show which ideally speaking should have been there with the Crime Branch since long. Like, the one where the computer can make use of fingerprints and detect a killer whose fingerprints are present in its database. Incidentally, this is going to be brought into effect in the near future. So if you see, we have been innovative and ahead of times in showing certain detective techniques.