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It's
been a happening week for the country's three mainstream channels this
week.
Two of them launched new shows on which may hinge the way their future
viewership
swings. The third tried to hit back with hour long specials of a combination of
its top shows over two days. The fourth leading channel, which is slowly inching
its way up, decided to stay away from any programming gimmicks. Wisely so.  Star
Plus should not have bent backwards with those special episodes just to deflect
attention from Virrudh and Teen Bahuraniyan. Both these shows are
leagues away from standard Balaji fare. Smriti Iraani, the producer, is of a far
better calibre than Smriti Iraani the actor. She proved it with Thodi Si Zameen
Thoda Sa Aasman on Star Plus, and does it again with Virrudh on Sony.
A gripping story, crisp dialogues and powerhouse performances converge to make
for some terrific programming, otherwise rarely seen these days on Indian TV.
 Virrudh
may not be what the doctor ordered for the teeny bopper or the housewife who picks
up her fashion cues from the latest soap, but it's a pleasure to watch the subtle
power politics at domestic and professional levels that messrs Vikram Gokhale,
Sushant Singh, Achint Kaur and others bring to the screen. Virrudh will
talk about the way a manipulative media baron, played by Gokhale, controls the
lives of not just his subordinates, but also his immediate family. All of this
week's episodes were gripping, barring one where Achint broke into song in an
inebriated state. Presuming Sony does not fall prey to TRP pressures and twist
the story to suit the puerile taste of what it presumes are the 'mass audiences',
Virrudh should leave a mark on the programming history of the channel.
 Interestingly,
so far there have hardly been any 'fresh young faces' on the serial, so crucial
to any soap that's launched. Most like Achint, Sushant and Smriti herself, are
pushing the 30s and look it. The show seems to bank on experienced performances,
and that is bold experimentation enough in an age of stereotypes. Except for Smriti,
who unfortunately cannot match the histrionics of her counterparts on the show.
 Zee
is out to woo the Gujjus again. The Gheewala family of Teen Bahuraniyan
could be an extension of Sony's Thodi Khushi Thode Gham family, and relatives
of Sony's Ek Mahal Ho Sapano Ka, not to mention Zee's own Betiyann family.
The focus is on the elder daughters-in-law, who are vying to bring in the best
daughter-in-law of their own into the family fold and win a prize. Paresh Rawal
stepped in to do the voice over in the inaugural episode (he's the producer of
this show), and going by the pace and the current story, it should get in the
audiences. Zee is keeping its commitment to the female cause going with this show
too, with the tag lines promising that a daughter-in-law is not a mere accessory.
It did a similar gig with Betiyann, but last I checked, the daughters were
still crying over destiny. Progressive promos help, but finally it's the tears
that rake in the TRPs, right?
I
tried to sit through the confusion of three soaps rolled into one on Star Plus
on Monday and Tuesday. And gave up. Each of these serials has umpteen characters
anyway. Mixing three was a surefire recipe for a migraine. All I could glean from
the episodes was that madames Smriti Iraani and Saakshi Tanwar obviously can't
stand to be in the same frame. All their conversations with each other were over
the phone! Getting these two prima donnas of Balaji together would have been the
real coup... alas, the channel couldn't manage that.
Perhaps
my eyes deceived me, but the same day that Star was merging soaps, I thought I
caught Saloni (of Saat Phere fame) on Zee's other show Betiyann.
Are all the channels getting that desperate for a few TRPs more?  So,
the government suddenly realised that FTV's Midnight Hot, which has been
airing for aeons now, is too hot for Indians. So, for regular FTV addicts, no
midnight viewing for a month. Who's next in the firing line? Watch out, Trendz!
Couch
potato's appetiser of the week - Discovery Style and Living will soon launch
A Matter of Taste, to be hosted by Vir Sanghvi. If it's anywhere as interesting
as his print columns on food, it should be a treat to watch! (The
views expressed here are those of the author and indiantelevision.com need not
necessarily subscribe to the same) |
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