TOI: On a soapy trail -- KTLK

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Posted: 12 years ago
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ON A SOAPY TRAIL 

Prime time shows are moving beyond studios to exotic locales in order to grab more eyeballs 

Shruti Jambhekar 


Television soaps are now again moving out of dining rooms,kitchens,boardrooms and literally going places.The storylines of dailies/weekenders are being suitably tweaked and modified to fit in an outdoor location or two in the original format.So from Australia darshan to Delhi metro and DTC buses,Lucknows quaint bylanes to misty Mussorie and the almost unexplored (by TV shows) Macau picture-perfect locales seem to be the order of the day for the soaps.Recently,Bade Achche Lagte Hain wrapped up a huge honeymoon special segment shot in Australia.Hitler Didi is being shot in purani Delhi and is now moving to Macau.Other much travelled shows include Phulwa (Chambal),Ek Hazaaron Mein Meri Behna Hai (Hrishikesh and Mussorie ),Veer Shivaji,Dwarkadheesh Bhagwan Shri Krishn (Vadodara),Shobha Somnath Ki (Vapi),Sasural Simar Ka (Vaishno Devi),Saath Nibhana Saathiya (Switzerland ),Iss Pyaar Ka Kya Naam Doon and Kuch Toh Log Kahenge (Lucknow ),with more shows sketching out globetrotting schedules.
Producer Siddharth Kumar Tewary of Phulwa says,Outdoor location adds authenticity to the sequence and audiences also like to see new settings.We get to capture different visuals and that makes a difference to the look of the show.But the overall budget shoots up. Ila Bedi Dutta,whos producing Hitler Didi agrees,When we decided to tell the story of a Delhi-family,we wanted the feel of the actual location.So,we shot in Delhi buses,metro stations,Red Fort and Jama Masjid.However,it is not easy to do outdoor shoots because co-ordinating the schedule is very difficult. 
Actor-producer JD Majethia whose show Chhoti Si Zindagi was shot in North India,says,For certain storylines,outdoor shoots are essential.Production costs include travel,stay and other allowances for the team which means we end up spending more.Its also important to have a proper technical back-up as well as sufficient bank of episodes to broadcast,so it is cumbersome as well.Not only that,if we plan a shoot in a foreign country,we cannot move with entire cast,so we need to take everything into account and keep some extra shots ready in our story bank. Majithia also shares that even though some countrys tourism board might come forward as a sponsor and take care of the travel and stay of the cast and crew,the technical costs are high.
So what do GEC (General Entertainment channels) honchos have to say about the outdoor locations in shows Virendra Sahwney,fiction head of a top GEC says,To bring in an element of authenticity to the story-telling,such shoots are important.The audience also feels a connect with certain places where they have stayed or visited. 
Not just soap makers,even actors seem to enjoy their outdoor shoots as it offers them an opportunity to work better as a team.Actor Krystal D - souza who plays the lead in Ek Hazaaron Mein Meri Behna Hai says,The audiences are not foolish and can distinguish between real locations and created ones. 
Escalating production costs notwithstanding,showmakers who want their soaps to look realistic seem to be travelling that extra mile and offering remote control junkies visual delight.Clearly for those who want to be frontrunners in the TRP battle TRPs,the extra dent in the budgets is acceptable,because numbers do the talking for most producers/channels every Wednesday.
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(Clockwise from right) Show stills from Bade Achche Lagte Hain,Hitler Didi and Veer Shivaji 






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Posted: 12 years ago
Thanx for sharing Tanu. so true..This TRP thing has really become a rat race for Daily show producers of late...
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