Posted:
Source : The Times of India
There was a time when TV soaps were spinning around saas and bahu sagas and it was then followed by a period which showcased what was popularly
known as
'family tales.'
(Of course that included kitchen politics also). And now we see GECs (General Entertainment Channels) having soaps revolving around social issues.
These issues portray social evils that are still a part of our society. To give a few examples, some of the soaps take upon issues like dowry, child marriage, widow re-marriage, and 'forcible' arranged marriage, the challenges revolving the girl child, superstitions and the like. Interestingly, most of these soaps have a socially relevant message to wrap up the episodes or tracks.
Why are such serials taking the centre stage? Is it merely a fad on Indian television?
Producer Rajan Shahi says that the reason why such serials are on prime time television is that, "The audience was fed up of all the artificial storylines that ruled the prime time slot earlier. They want to watch serials that they can relate to. And that is why soaps that have a relevant social message are very popular."
Even Sujoy Wadhwa, producer of two soaps that are based on social issues agrees to the same as he shares, "In a nutshell, these soaps are the 'flavour of the season'! Unlike earlier concepts of saas-bahu based soaps or family dramas this genre will enjoy a longer stint on television." These soaps call for adequate research on the part of the producers and directors.
During the golden days of Indian television, read the yesteryears, there were a couple of shows that took on social issues. But now, daily soaps have taken them on with a vengeance So, what do veteran actors feel about this trend? Actor Anang Desai says, "Soaps comprising social issues are a good watch. Though what is important is that such shows have to be presented in a proper manner. Producers need to be careful."
Sanjay Upadhyaya, fiction head of a popular GEC tells us, "Many GECs have small towns and villages as their target group. So the idea behind social dramas is to empower women and the tool used here is story telling." Though, he adds, "Soaps revolving around social issues is a welcome change. But when we have too many soaps on a similar theme, they all look and feel the same."
But as these soaps grab eye balls and are successful, the new trend on telly will stay.
[Sunjoy Wadhwa is the producer of Balika Vadhu ]
There was a time when TV soaps were spinning around saas and bahu sagas and it was then followed by a period which showcased what was popularly
(Of course that included kitchen politics also). And now we see GECs (General Entertainment Channels) having soaps revolving around social issues.
These issues portray social evils that are still a part of our society. To give a few examples, some of the soaps take upon issues like dowry, child marriage, widow re-marriage, and 'forcible' arranged marriage, the challenges revolving the girl child, superstitions and the like. Interestingly, most of these soaps have a socially relevant message to wrap up the episodes or tracks.
Why are such serials taking the centre stage? Is it merely a fad on Indian television?
Producer Rajan Shahi says that the reason why such serials are on prime time television is that, "The audience was fed up of all the artificial storylines that ruled the prime time slot earlier. They want to watch serials that they can relate to. And that is why soaps that have a relevant social message are very popular."
Even Sujoy Wadhwa, producer of two soaps that are based on social issues agrees to the same as he shares, "In a nutshell, these soaps are the 'flavour of the season'! Unlike earlier concepts of saas-bahu based soaps or family dramas this genre will enjoy a longer stint on television." These soaps call for adequate research on the part of the producers and directors.
During the golden days of Indian television, read the yesteryears, there were a couple of shows that took on social issues. But now, daily soaps have taken them on with a vengeance So, what do veteran actors feel about this trend? Actor Anang Desai says, "Soaps comprising social issues are a good watch. Though what is important is that such shows have to be presented in a proper manner. Producers need to be careful."
Sanjay Upadhyaya, fiction head of a popular GEC tells us, "Many GECs have small towns and villages as their target group. So the idea behind social dramas is to empower women and the tool used here is story telling." Though, he adds, "Soaps revolving around social issues is a welcome change. But when we have too many soaps on a similar theme, they all look and feel the same."
But as these soaps grab eye balls and are successful, the new trend on telly will stay.
[Sunjoy Wadhwa is the producer of Balika Vadhu ]
comment:
p_commentcount