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Here is a question for you on a lazy Sunday morning — think of a serial that you used to watch during the nascent days of satellite television and you might come up with names like Junoon, Khandaan, Sailaab or Dastaan. Now think of the characters and the backdrop of these shows. Do you remember which part of the country the lead characters came from? Well, all these shows were based in a metro and the characters were part of the cosmopolitan crowd who made the mega city their home. Where they came from was not important and did not make much of a difference in the serial. Now fast forward time and think of the late 90s and early 2000s — Kyun Ki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, Kasauti Zindagi Kay, Baa Bahu aur Baby and the retinue of saas-bahu soaps where the story was largely based in Mumbai. The Viranis of Kyun Ki…were from Gujarat, the Basus of Kasauti from Bengal and so on. One could not miss the Jai Shri Krishna and the Durga Puja in the serials!
If you think, this is just a mere coincidence, you are mistaken. In the recent past, serial makers have made a conscious effort to explore the rich diversity of India and bring it to your living room. Is it a careful ploy by the makers to help you relate to the show, thereby increasing TRPs? If it is, so successful has this ploy been that producers just can’t seem to have enough of it. Ekta cites the example of her latest show Tere Liye to disagree and explain the real reason, “This show is based on two families in Kolkata.
When I agreed to make this serial, I never wanted to cater to just the Bengali audience, as this niche group can always watch such shows on regional channels. I have created Tere Liye in such a way that it can appeal to people from all over the country. I feel everyone would like to know how two culturally rich Bengali families live with each other,” explains the lady, who has always expressed her fondness for the city of joy and its inhabitants.
However, if you take a look at the shows that were launched in the last few months, you will realise that increasingly, the cultural diversity card is being used as the USP of Hindi serials. Sarvgun Sampanna is based on a a Lavani dancer – a dance form from Maharashtra, Thoda Hai Bas Thode Ki Zaroorat Hai is based on a Maharastrian family who lives in the old Shivaji Park neighbourhood in Mumbai, in addition to Tere Liye. Ekta, the czarina of Indian television and the person who started the trend, says, “It is the story that is important and if it demands a focus on the region, we have to portray the same.
When I started Pavitra Rishta — the story of a typical middle-class Maharastrian family — it had a cosmopolitan feel, however, when I did Sarvgun Sampanna, the feel changed. Since the story spoke about the Lavani dance form and the struggle of dancers in rural Maharashtra, I had to bring in that element. But I do admit that of late, most of the ideas presented by my creative team have a regional background.”
With physical and geographical barriers being broken by cosmopolitan lifestyles and cross-cultural marriages, the growing interest in such diverse content is partly understandable. Explains Goldie Behl, producer of Thoda Hai Bas Thode Ki Zaroorat Hai, “Though we are Punjabis, both Shrishti (his sister and co-producer) and I are married to Maharastrians. After observing our extended families for a long time and knowing them closely, we decided to make a show depicting the Maharashtrian way of life. In a way, it is a tribute to our in-laws!” In this show, the Behls depict how relationships are nurtured in a Maharastrian family.
If the diversity and newness factor affected the producers so much, one can imagine the impact it will have on viewers. Naturally they would like to see more of what goes on elsewhere in the country. Little wonder that you find shows based in Rajasthan, Jharkhand and remote corners of Uttar Pradesh these days.
Interestingly, however, we have not seen too many successful shows based on South Indian families. Is their any particular reason? Is the language barrier acting as an obstacle? Ekta seems to agree. She says, “We do not have a very strong viewership in South India for our shows. However, once it’s translated and telecast, it gets good ratings.” Whatever the case may be, no one is complaining. If Mile Sur Mera Tumhara, promoted unity among diversity in the 80s, different Hindi serials have taken up the mantle now. Undoubtedly, it is a delight to get a taste of different cultures on the small screen.