Talk shows that only talk

TELLY TALK

If yes, ever wondered why? It’s simply because we haven’t been able to garner the glamour or style of international talk  shows that have got viewers hooked across the globe. Isn’t it time we had an Indian talk show which can meet the standards set by international shows?

We talk about Indian cinema going global, how about hoping for the same to happen in television? It is time talk shows on the small screen were revamped. Production houses need to invest some time in creating concepts  that click with the audience and most importantly, select a host, who connects with the audience and also exudes personality, intelligence and charisma.

 A reason why many Indian talk shows have not had a successful run on TV  is because producers and directors here believe that the show’s TRPs will rise only if it’s hosted by a Bollywood personality. Why not let a person of substance shoulder this responsibility? The same old rules do not apply anymore and we are ready for experimentation.

Karan Johar’s Koffee with Karan has definitely struck a chord with viewers, yet it does not appeal to every demographic because it only deals with banalities concerning movie stars. Koffee with Karan has garnered enough TRPs by showcasing gossip and candid admissions straight from the mouths of the most sought-after actors in the Hindi film industry.  There is a good looking set and some interesting conversations thrown in and many good-looking people. 

Karan has done a good job compared to his other Indian counterparts but still it is not a completely satisfying watch because of its limited format. Movers and Shakers hosted by Shekhar Suman too did well despite the fact that it was inspired by The Tonight Show. It worked because Shekhar has the gift of the gab, a sense of humour and a certain kind of presence.

Tere Mere Beach Mein was another forgettable celebrity chat show hosted by Farah Khan. It premiered on Star Plus last year but the show ended after completing only 13 episodes. Farah did manage to rope in a number of top Bollywood actors, right from Salman Khan to Shahrukh Khan. They tried hard to make the concept creative and each episode interesting by coming up with a new theme every time.

Tere Mere Beach Mein also had a segment where celebrities connected with the common man. Despite all this masala, the show wasn’t successful. Farhan Akhtar’s attempt at chat shows, Oye! It’s Friday! also fell flat even though it featured a new celebrity every week and comprised of special performances by dancers, singers and comic talent. It was a good attempt but wasn’t the best.

So. why are we still lagging behind? Is it because Indian talk shows just do not get  the fact that a chat show has to grow beyond just a chat. It will be a long time before we love a chat show so much that it will become a long-running phenomena like The Tonight Show, which started in 1954 and is still going on.

What we need to learn from this show is that it invites a wide variety of celebrities not only from the movies but also from other circles of life — right from politicians to conservationists — while we keep gawking at Bollywood stars and giggling at their rapid fire jokes.

We need to put more research, heart and mind into chat shows. Although there have been shows with some amount of real emotional connect like Rendezvous with Simi Garewal,  they too sound dated today.  It is time to rethink the chat.