The
year 2009 has been a roller-coaster ride for our television audiences.
Indian Television had a variety of shows to offer on a platter to its
audience. Right from controversial reality shows, drastic change in
soap themes to a clutter of comedy shows. Unlike earlier, TV viewers
were not compelled to watch same saas-bahu fiction sagas and
singing-dancing reality shows.
Saas- Bahus finally retired from their jobs of scheming to pin-down
each other and were replaced by socially relevant issues. Such shows
were a breather for the viewers than watching numerous shows based on
the same theme. With mega-hit serials like 'Kyun Ki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu
Thi' and 'Kahani Ghar Ghar Ki' going off-air yet another phase of
Indian Television got over giving way for fresh lot of serials.
Fictions based on various social issues like Star Plus's 'Sapna Babul
Ka Bidaai', Zee TV 'Choti Bahu' and NDTV Imagines' 'Bandini' were vey
well received by audiences and are prime time hit shows today.
Small-screen also attracted the youth by having college romance and
love-stories woven in their shows. No more did young crowd got bored in
the evening while their moms and grand-moms watched soaps as even they
enjoyed cheerful shows like 'Miley Jab Hum Tum', 'Love ne Mila Di Jodi'
and 'Bhasker Bharti'. Kids also had their share of fun, with
child-stars like Ulka Gupta in 'Jhansi Ki Rani' and Zaynah Vastani in
'Aap Ki Antara' attracting the kids attention on TV.
There were also shows which could be watched by everyone in the family.
Comedies like 'Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chasma', 'Lapataganj' and 'Comedy
Circus's new season' were raging hits among family audience.
Reality shows have always been audience's favorite, but even reality
shows have to be varied. TV again succeeded in catching the viewer's
attention with bringing in never before seen shows. Unique quiz show
like 'Sach Ka Samna' hosted by TV's heartthrob Rajeev Khandelwal was
very controversial and raised doubts about the integrity of Indian
culture in government bodies but then again that is what gains viewers
interest. Even NDTV Imagine's 'Pati, Patni Aur Woh' was new concept,
with celebrity couple's taking care of common man's children but soon
came the news of the of mishandling kids, and that's when it caught
eye-balls. But the Baap of all controversial reality shows that gained
high TRPs, was 'Rakhi Ka Swayamvar' where drama-queen Rakhi got
prepared to choose a groom on National Television and when it comes to
her there has to be lot of spice and fights. So, there was a new wave
of freshness in Reality shows.
2009 did not just have feel-good and rona-dhona on small-screen but TV
also revived its hit horror show 'Aahat'. This was the ruling horror
show in the past and once again it hit the small-screen, with new color
and flavour. As for investigative shows CID is still going great guns
and continues to impress audience. Sahara One's 'Mr. and Mrs. Mishra'
has pulled up its sleeves to attract audience with its share of crime
solving cases.
As the year came to a close 'Raaz Pichle Janam Ka' and 'Bigg Boss 3'
had caught the fancy of the viewers. While 'Big Boss 3' was eagerly
awaited due to Amitabh Bachchan and the finale saw Vindu Dara Singh as
the winner, 'Raaz …' caught the attention of all due to its past life
regression therapy which everyone found very interesting.
Here, comes the end of year 2009 and TV made the audience sit glued to
their sets it with its colorful shows on different subjects, whether
fiction or reality. So, less tears rolled down the viewer's cheek and
audience loved it all the way!
-Chandana. H. Buch/ Telly Cafe