Jai and Bani. Raghu and Aanya. Nimmo and Kunal. Matters couldn't be more comfortably mushy as the season gets just right for fanning those flames of passion and affection. And while the tired old family dramas keep up their tired old antics, it's the time tested but potent Mills and Boon flavour of Kasamh Se, Jab Love Hua and Nimmo... that's been cheering up TV for some days now.

"If Kavita Kaushik is looking to get back into the Balaji fold, she could have chosen better"

This week, Nimmo, accompanied by the loud though lovable Kantaben (veteran actor Bharati Achrekar who's also fallen for the Balaji bait) managed to come out unscathed from another misadventure in Mauritius. But the perpetually perplexed looking hubby grappled with another knotty problem in the form of former girlfriend Natasha. If Kavita Kaushik is looking to get back into the Balaji fold (there's not much work for her after the dying Kesar), she could have chosen better. As Natasha, garishly made up and dressed like a tart, she doesn't look or act like she could win anyone's affections, let alone a married old flame.

Over at Zee, Saat Phere's plain Jane Saloni continues to keep viewers mysteriously hooked despite stiff competition from the timorous Bani of Kasamh Se, who, it now seems, will definitely win over the snooty husband (played with remarkable restraint by another good actor, Ram Kapoor), again over the affections of another old flame who's popped out of the history books.

But the best story of the lot, away from the artifice of the in laws and the artificial gloss of city life, is that of Raghu and Aanya. Tony and Deeya Singh's labour of love after Jassi, Jab Love Hua has picked up steam in the last few days (did dropping the extra 'b' from the title have anything to do with this?).

The protagonists are spontaneous, the dialogues pithy and spiked spicily with a rural flavour, which is a refreshing change. The hero (Sudeep Sahir doing a much better job than in Ayushmaan) goes about comfortably in his dhoti and vest, and still retains a charm that no Millionaire-sponsored wardrobe can match. Priya Badlani may have started awkward, but she's gotten well into the skin of Aanya, a curious mixture of innonence and urban conceit, This week, she almost got an embarrassed Raghu to confess his love, unaware that she herself was the subject of his feelings. Just the kind of feel good story to look forward to on rainy evenings.

'Jab Love Hua' duo: The home grown variety that's finally clicking

Quite unlike the other contorted efforts that pass for programming. Sony's Risshton Ki Dorr, inspired by Three Sisters, continues to confound. The story doesn't seem to know whether to focus itself on the brother's love for his sisters, the wife's obsession with a prominent builder, or the builder's wooden romance with one of the sisters. The same goes for Sony's other prime time show Ek Ladki Anjaani Si. The desi version of Juana Le Virgen has been meandering after its efforts to Indianise the 'socially uncomfortable' theme of a young girl's inadvertent pregnancy. It may be trying to go back to the original track, but by now, who cares?

Which brings me to the happy conclusion that it is the home grown variety that's finally clicking. With the exception of a Pyar Ke Do Naam, Ek Radha Ek Shyaam (with a name like that, did they expect it to work though?), it is the indigenous plots that may set the tone for the remainder of the year. May the rash of foreign format shows inspired by the Jassi phenomenon die peacefully, and allow us to grow old happily with the likes of Saat Phere, Jab Love Hua, even a Thodi Khushi Thode Gham...

****

"Pity that Khandelwal should get into form only at the fag end of the season" And if that's true of the soaps, so it is with reality shows. Sony's thrice-revived Deal Ya No Deal, which may now mercifully end its beleaguered run, could cut no ice with viewers despite the lure of third host Rajeev Khandelwal, who's been in the wilderness for a while. And yet, last Friday's episode, with Aamna Shariff as the celeb participant, gave reason to cheer for die hard fans of the original Sujal-Kashish romance. The usually stiff Rajeev unbent, and how. He charmed Aamna, sang for her, pirouetted with her and gazed soulfully into her eyes, asking her on bent knee, "Dil Ya No Dil?" By the end of the show, I, for one, couldn't care how much the lady won, as long as she dimpled and said "Deal" to Rajeev. Pity that the anchor should get into form only at the fag end of the season. "He may be anchoring 'Business Baazigar' just for the money, but elsewhere, Cyrus Sahukar is worth sacrificing your favourite soap for" But I wonder why the other supposedly big ticket reality show of the season, Zee's Business Baazigar, is getting a raw deal at home. Away from the spotlight seemingly reserved for Ek Main Aur Ek Tu, the business reality show has quietly and unobtrusively moved into the last stages with eight finalists, who have now been asked to run companies from the Essel group for three days on their own. From having to earn money with a capital of one rupee in 24 hours, the participants have come a long way. This week, they got makeovers, were allotted plush apartments to stay and then given the big opportunity. The content is no doubt gripping, but the pace suffers often, the participants are still getting used to the presence of the camera, and anchor Cyrus Sahukar looks like he could have done with Sandhya Mridul's company, who quit the show midway. But the real tragedy is that the channel seems to have given up on the show even before it ends. There's no adrenaline rush as a build up to the finale, not many on-air promos or promotions elsewhere. Will the Zee chairman hand over the promised crores with equal apathy when the show finally chooses its Baazigar? ****

"TGILC lived up to its standard even in its 2nd season, breaking the jinx that accompanies many sequels on Indian TV"

While the rest of Zee's new shows seem to be heading in the right direction, the only mis-timed one appears to be Johny Ala Re. With so much original rib-tickling stuff available just a hop across at Star One's The Great Indian Laughter Challenge that culminated last Friday, Johny's often tired humour may not raise the requisite laughs. TGILC (again, another original format) lived up to its standard even in its second season, breaking the jinx that accompanies many sequels on Indian TV. With its champions now gearing to host their own show from next week and permeating The Great Indian Comedy Show as well, Star One might just be the one to laugh all the way to the bank.

****

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Oh, by the way, remember a sci fi Friday show on Star Plus called Karma - Koi Aa Raha Hai Waqt Badalne, that took so long in the making, that everyone lost interest by the time it launched two years ago? It's back as a re-run, this time on Pogo, and is getting lapped up by all the eight-year-olds lost in its Krrish-like wonder acts. Was it just a matter of timing, then?

And while the tweens lap up Pogo, the toddlers continue to be glued to Tom on Cartoon Network, who last I checked, was chasing Jerry chortling, "Utaarke tera Jeevan Bima, bana doon main tujhko kheema!"

Keeping a tab on those lyrics, anyone?

****

Couch potato tip - He may be anchoring Business Baazigar just for the money, but elsewhere, Cyrus Sahukar is worth sacrificing your favourite soap for. The most underrated Cyrus of them all, he veejays with flair, apes Navjyot Singh Sidhu as Piddhu with aplomb... but best of all, continues to keep viewers in splits as Semi Girebaal, at the same time that Simi's doing her own thing across on Star World. You can't get more Simi-lar than that!

(The views expressed here are those of the author and indiantelevision.com need not necessarily subscribe to the same)