I don`t find any soul in today`s soaps

I don`t find any soul in today`s soaps
Monday, July 21, 2008 12:42 IST
By Santa Banta News Network
The classic school of scriptwriting suggests that every story must have three basic parts - beginning, middle, and end - without which it is not complete. But the melodramatic daily soaps on Indian TV channels have a beginning that people forget in the middle and wait for the end that never comes.

Experts feel the ongoing competition among various channels for Television Rating Points(TRP) has led to a situation where quality has taken a back seat.

"There was a time when there was only one television channel and there was no fight for TRPs, " said the veteran filmmaker Ravi Chopra whose epic serial "Mahabharat" created history with its viewership.

Chopra said the constant creative interference from the channels affect the process of making of a serial.

"Channels dictate terms to various production houses regarding the creative content, which affects the quality most. Besides, in our times, only experts with a vast experience were asked to make serials whereas now the private channels do not look for such expertise, " Chopra told.

Filmmaker Aziz Mirza, who made TV hits like "Nukkad" and "Circus" said: "Since we did not have the technology, we used to work more on the scripts and the presentation. We tried to give it a soul so that people could relate to it.

"But, I don't find any soul in today's soaps. They are full of camera jerks, fast cuts and all unnecessary gimmicks that can never cover the flaws in the script. These unending serials do society no good, " maintained Mirza.

Production houses no longer want to experiment, lamented Siddharth Malhotra of Cinevista, which produced some remarkable serials like "Gul, Gulshan, Gulfam", "Katha Sagar", and "Junoon" in the 1990s.

Malhotra said producers should also take the initiative in giving TV channels a set of options.

"We as producers should be responsible and stick to our own ideology. One should not succumb to the pressure of a channel. If we think of a concept or an idea that is new and creative, we can surely convince the channel about it."

Eminent filmmaker Ketan Mehta, whose serial "Mr Yogi" was widely accepted by audiences, said the television industry was going through a vast change.

"The change is positive and there are more opportunities. The industry is going through a major transition and when this is over, I think, things are going to settle down.

"But as far as the present condition is concerned, I accept the fact that there has been a huge degradation of quality. But at the same I am confident that things are going to settle down in the future, " Mehta told.

TV actor Amit Behl, who debuted with "Shanti", said: "Soaps give us money. I do soaps when I run out of money. It gives us fast money but no creative satisfaction. To keep myself creatively satisfied, I do special serials, and act in films."

Anooj Kapoor, senior vice president SET India Pvt Ltd, said: "The 'Saas Bahu' melodrama has created a problem in various families. Since, India is a country where the joint family is still in vogue, we as professionals in entertainment should keep the social structure in mind when creating content.

"I have come across various families where people complained that the relations between many mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law soured because of these soaps, " Kapoor maintained.
Singham Again Wins the Monday Test with estimated collection of 17-18 Crores on Day 4!

Audiences are rallying behind Singham Again, making it their top choice this week. Following an impressive weekend collection that set box office records, Singham Again shows

Tuesday, November 05, 2024
Audiences Celebrate Diwali with Singham Again as the Film Roars on Weekend!

Rohit Shetty's highly anticipated cop-drama Singham Again has made a thunderous impact at the box office. The film, led by Ajay Devgn, drew massive crowds and raked in impressive

Monday, November 04, 2024
Samantha Ruth Prabhu De-Stresses with Intense Workouts and Explores Rajasthan's Beauty!

Actress Samantha Ruth Prabhu recently showcased her de-stressing ritual with some intense fitness training, proving once again that she's as strong as she is stunning. Taking to Instagram

Monday, November 04, 2024
Kriti Sanon and Rumoured Boyfriend Kabir Bahia Spotted at Mumbai Airport: Details Inside!

Bollywood actress Kriti Sanon, who has been basking in the positive reception of her maiden production Do Patti, was recently spotted at the Mumbai airport on Sunday alongside her

Monday, November 04, 2024
Poojan Chhabra on building a strong connection with co-star Bhuvan Arora on the sets of Amazon MX Player's Fisaddi!

Amazon MX Player, Amazon's free video streaming platform, recently released the bromance drama, Fisaddi. Set in Allahabad University, the series follows the story of two

Monday, November 04, 2024
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT