by Subhash Jha

If Sony's Jassi re-introduced our TV addicts to the ordinary plain Jane with extraordinary dreams, then Zee's Kareena Kareena got even more cosy doing the desi wannabe's aspirations.

And now two daily soaps are all set to carry the middleclass dream even further. Sahara's Kittu Sab Janti Hai which goes on air on 14 November and Sony's Ek Ladki Anjaani Se which kicks off a week later on 21 November are both about the hopes dreams and travails of the average middleclass girl.

While the lead in the Sony serial is played by Kanchi Kaul, the chosen girl on Sahara's serial is Ami Trivedi.

"We auditioned at last fifty girls before we zeroed in on Ami Trivedi. She has all the requirements for the role. We needed someone fresh-faced and able to connect with the audience...It's the story of one middleclass girl's journey in life. What sets Kittu apart is the fact that it's set in the media world. No other soap has done that," says producer Manish Goswami who's currently enjoying the success of his political soap Sarrkar on Zee.

"We're trying to do something different all the time. The glamorous business familes are like desserts. Finally the audience wants their favourite daal-chawal. I want to make serials with real characters. That's where my earlier Kittie Patty, then Sarrkar and now Kittu Sab Janti Hai score," asserts Manish.

Does he foresee any competition from Sony's Ek Ladki Anjaani Si? "I'm not even aware of this serial. All I can say is, let's welcome soaps about real middleclass characters," laughs Manish.

Tarun Katial of Sony has a different story to tell. "Yes , Ek Ladki Anjaani Si is about a middleclass girl. But her journey is so jolting and so unexpected, and her experiences so far removed from what home viewers have seen so far that we feel Ek Ladki Anjaani Si will crack a new genre among the workingclass serials."