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Ever
so often, the television industry in India laments the paucity of good scriptwriters
in the country. Is that why so many of the shows currently on air seem to be going
round in circles, beating around the same hackneyed bush?  Or
is it the creative brains at the production houses and channels, who, supposedly
with their finger on the pulse of the watching public, that are responsible for
the lack of originality in so many soaps? With the exception of a few, (and these
honorable few seem to be all on Zee currently) too many serials are fast falling
in the 'predictable' category.
Just
last week, this column pointed out the similar tracks followed by Thodi Si
Zameen Thoda Sa Aasman and Dulhann, both treading a path set by Koshish
Ek Asha some years ago.
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Will Ekta take responsibility
for her meandering soaps...? |
But
it is the long running Balaji shows that seem to be copying tracks taken earlier
by those from the same production house.
Accidents,
miraculous resurrections, second wives, the suffering first wife... Ask any avid
follower of the K soaps and you will realise that the sense of deja vu is hitting
with a greater frequency than before. Particularly in the last few weeks. If
the Balaji creative head takes a personal interest in the tracks of her shows,
will she also take responsibility for her meandering soaps that may still be getting
the eyeballs, but are miles away from the earlier engaging stories she had the
nation hooked on. ****
| Getting
feverish News
channels this week got into a fever over the outbreak of dengue in the capital
and other metros. Over breakfast or dinner, the channels have been painting a
grim picture of the scenario outside the AIIMS hospital in New Delhi slums in
Santa Cruz in Mumbai and elsewhere. On air, they have also been decrying the administration's
apathy and castigating it for blaming the media for creating a 'dengue panic'.
In the absence of absolute statistics however, all we have are speculative estimates
of the exact number that's been afflicted by the disease. With a slightly better
coordination between the authorities and the media the picture could have been
better for the viewers.
****
Jhalak
... so far, so good  Despite
my initial bias against Sony's latest celeb talent hunt, I continue to enjoy Jhalak
Dikhhla Jaa, if only for the remarkable performances put up each time by the
participants, now down to four. The idea of having the choreographer perform in
sync with the celeb has turned out a winner, and the teams have been coming up
with innovative ideas to beat each other. One could only wish to shower similar
praise on Nach Baliye's second season. There's nothing that's wrong with
the show, except that it's too much like the first and everyone has had enough
of the first helping. It will still get the eyeballs from an entertainment and
celebrity starved audience, but the lustre is clearly lacking.
**** |
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. ****
Satire,
at its best Zee
Marathi's Ghadlay Bighadlay (it's happened, it's messed up) continues to
charm with its unique brand of political and social satire. The daily half hour
capsules, now over two years old, are still fresh with their folk approach and
well timed anecdotes. If only some of the national channels would think of adapting
a similar format. It would work wonders, in place of drab news coverage, 24 by
7.
 Zee
Marathi has also successfully incorporated the Sa Re Ga Ma Pa format into
Marathi getting Pallavi Joshi (who disappeared from mainstream shows) to anchor
it. The talent, the astute judges and a fair ranking system that the original
Sa Re... had are also in evidence, although it still hasn't succumbed to
the on-air fights that the original had its share of. For those who can latch
on to the language, this is a show to watch weeknights.
****
Couch
potato tip of the week - Times Now will soon launch ace economist Swaminathan
Aiyar in his own show, Swami Talks. If the guy hosts as well as he writes,
the show should be something to look forward to. (The
views expressed here are those of the author and indiantelevision.com need not
necessarily subscribe to the same) |
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