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Journalism of Courage
The tried-and-tested formula of time-leaps is getting tiresome.
Leaps seem to be the flavour of the season as far as TV serials go. Starting with Sapna Babul Ka… Bidaai,which took a seven-year leap that led to the exit of Sara Khan and to Apurva Agnihotris entry,to Balika Vadhu that had the child couple growing up by five years and even the kids in the recently-launched Tere Liye have grown up after a four-year leap,Agle Janam Mohe Bitiya Hi Kijo that fast-forwarded by seven years has turned poor Lali into a thakurain.
The latest is Sarvagunn Sampanna,another recently-launched serial going for an eight-year leap. Serials are using this trick to infuse freshness,add new characters and story tracks. A tried-and-tested ploy,it usually is resorted to when the serials are falling off the popularity charts or when they run out of story ideas.
The makers have to thank Ekta Kapoor for starting this trend. When the popular character Mihir Virani in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi died there was an overwhelming public outcry for his return. It was then that Ekta brought him from the dead and this was followed by a leap. It worked wonderfully for the serial as it was a novel idea.
Even now in some cases it works well,like in the case of Uttaran,which is currently rocking the TRP charts. Even Balika Vadhu has managed to salvage itself and is back among the top five.
But how long can you sustain the hype surrounding a leap? In fact,why go for it in the first place? Why not finish the serial once the main story is over and start a new serial like good old Doordarshan would do?
Finite stories and serials that were the norm on Doordarshan always made for interesting viewing. There is no running away from daily soaps,but I think weeklies will change the scenario a bit. Sony experimented with the format early this year when it launched five television shows produced by Yash Raj Films.
Unfortunately,despite some good shows like Mahi Way and Powder,they didnt click with the audience. The latter dealt with narcotics trade and was well-researched and supported by good lead performances. Even Mahi Way,about an overweight working girl,and the problems that she faces,was something many working girls could relate to. Still,it couldnt notch high TRPs and went off the air after six months.
Yet,Sony has started the re-run of this serial,which proves that a good weekly show can have an independent shelf-life. But I guess,given the fierce competition (earlier Doordarshan didnt have any other channels breathing down its neck,thats why it could march to its own beat),the present-day channels have no other option but to flog a dead horse.
Maybe the patient viewer will just have to wait for the horse to kick back. Or maybe they should just get the weeklies back.
