MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) GEC Sony Entertainment Television (SET) has always differed from the rest of the pack in that it has done well with stories which appealed to the younger demographic and in more urban settings. (Remember the smash hit JassiJaisiKohiNahin, Bade AccheLagate Hai, Patiala Babes).

Now, SET is all set to bring another series IndiawaaliMaa which tells an endearing relatable tale of a mother who helps her son through difficult times. The daily premieres on 31 August and will air from Monday to Friday at 8:30 pm.

The show is produced by Jay Productions and has Suchita Trivedi (Kaushalya), Nitesh Pandey (Hasmukh), AkshayMhatre (Rohan), and Sheen Dass (Chinamma) in the main lead.

Jay Productions founder Kinnari Mehta says the idea of making IndiawaaliMaa  was spawned eight months back when writer Imtiaz Patel narrated a story about a mother’s journey traveling to London for her son who gets into  trouble.

“A few months back in a meeting with Sony TV, I narrated the idea,” she shares.  “They instantly loved it.” 

Originally, the plan was to film in London, but with restrictions on travel and budgets brought about by the pandemic, the story was tweaked with Mumbai as a location.

According to Mehta, the studio faced many challenges while drafting the script and shooting while adhering to all the SOPs with limited crew.  Additionally, multiple units where shoots are happening simultaneously, are being resorted to ensure that there is no overcrowding in one location and social distancing is maintained.

Also, due to restrictions on travel, the team is doing most of the coordination over Zoom calls.

Kinnari says, “We wanted someone who looks like my mother and for that, we conducted auditions, practically from the entire industry and the biggest challenge we faced was most of the women who are in their forties  have toned bodies. I couldn’t relate to them. When Suchitra came for the audition, she wore a normal saree, hooped earrings, and donned messy braids. I instantly chose her for the role as she perfectly fits in it.”

As far as Nitish Pandey is concerned, Mehta wanted someone who is like a strict father but also a loving husband.

“This is a show which will allow all of us to know the heart of a mother – the heart of an unconditionally loving  Indian mother -  closely. IndiawaaliMaa is not just a show it is an  emotion. A story that can’t be said and can only be felt,” says Kinnari.

SPNI  digital business & SET content  head Ashish Golwalkar  says that the show will appeal to almost everyone as at its heart are real human emotions. “A mother is someone who stands by her son through thick and thin,” he says. “And in IndiawaaliMaa,Kaushalya or Kaku, the mother, takes it upon herself to resurrect her son Rohan who has lost direction and is struggling to cope,” says Golwalkar.

Overall, he is pleased with the way that things are progressing with SET. Says he: The channel has always focused on relevant topics and at younger audiences. Our content is mostly around people and laughter. The Kapil Sharma Show is doing relatively well."

He  is happy that the production of Kaun Banega Crorepati has commenced last week with extremely high safety precautions for its host Amitabh Bachchan and crew members. It may be recalled that Bachchan was discharged from hospital earlier this month after recovering from Covid2019. Says Golwarlkar: “We lost KBC around August and its shooting schedule was postponed. Hopefully, it will be launched next month.”

The good news is that auditions for both Kaun Banega Crorepati and Indian Idol have been completed and the participants decided. Indian Idol is set to launch in end-October, replacing India’s Best Dancer which is in its final  stages.

During the lockdown, Golwalkar has observed that audiences are preferring shows which are full of nostalgia. “There is no denying that digital consumption is growing very fast. I head content for SonyLIV and see that the younger generation watch more on the digital platforms,” he shares.He further adds, “Our digital platform still gets a lot of traction from Tarak Mehta KaUltaChashma, Balveer, The Kapil Sharma Show and India’s Best Dancer. A lot of television consumption is slowly shifting to digital but it is just the change of screen. I believe television is as relevant as it was before.”