Protest against K-Serials

Televisionpoint.com Correspondent
Blame it on Ekta Kapoor, the trend setter of saas bahu sagas has become a villain for residents of several colonies. A women protest group led by Mumbai-based Jain outfit Vriti Vrund and some other social organisations marched to the Balaji Telefilms office on Thursday afternoon to protest against extra-marital relationships and marital rape being increasingly depicted in the K-Serials produced by Balaji for television.

Mercy killings and foetus-sex determination tests being shown in Ekta Kapor's serials also came in for attack. The 100-strong crowd of women, who seem to be regular watchers of the K Serials, shouted slogans complaining about the 'anti-cultural' and 'anti-Indian' tone of the K Serials. alaji Telefilms and Ekta Kapoor is not new to such protests but of late the K serials had been moving away from controversies. One media wag felt this could be just one way to jack up TRPs.

In fact, as many as 25 mahila mandalis from eight colonies have written angry letters to their local cable operators demanding the blockage of certain channels which depict such mindless programmes.

One protestor said "Initially when these serials went on air, they showed positive aspects which are inherent in the Indian family and hence all the family members used to watch the serials together. But, now the TV serials are churning out divorces by the dozen, remarriages at the drop of a hat and needless rape scenes. We receive frantic calls from disturbed parents who say their children are getting influenced by such serials."

Consultant psychologist points out that negative aspects "seep-in" faster than positive aspects when seen on the small screen.