TRP KE LIYE KUCH BHI KAREGA Telly soaps still have their share of stereotypical situations and characters
Shruti Jambhekar They
say,the small screens show formats are changing.But some things
continue to stay the way they were.The desi soapbox thrives on
TRP-tripping formula that goes by the name of stereotypes.If you have
been an avid/or even an occasional soap buff,then youd know that no
telly show is complete without using the familiar formats which help
grab eyeballs.
BHOLI SI SURAT
The sweet Miss
butter-wouldnt-melt-inher mouth and coy adarsh bahu still exists on
small screen.No matter how strong women protagonists have become over
the years,the ideal Indian bahu is the one whos good at being the
supporting act,even when shes the lead.Not for her the demands of a
career.Home is where the hearth is.Rajita Sharma,producer of Ram Milaye
Jodi says,While television shows have docile and sweet girls as leads,we
have tried to break this stereotype.In our show,the female lead is
spirited,yet sensitive. Yeah,we dont want to ruffle any feathers now do
we!
VAMP DIARIES
Tellys bad women in Navya,Maayke
Se BandhiDor,Saath Nibhana Saathiya,Uttaran,Pavitra Rishta are not as
flamboyant as they used to be in the past (remember Komolika of Kasautii
Zindagi Kay or Ramola Sikand of Kahin Kisi Roz),but the grey shades
rule.The mellowed down vamp has the same responsibility on screen she
has to create hurdles for the heroine (and her family/ friends/beloved)
and scheme and manipulate for that.A lift of a salon shaped eyebrow
usually does the needful when the vamp has to express her anger or a
smirk can show how sarcastic she is.Aishwarya Sakhuja ruefully says that
on,Indian television,women are either black or white.The vamps are so
vicious,conniving and scheming that they seem unreal. But who cares as
long as they can lure the audience into a state of suspension of
disbelief.
CINDERELLAS PRINCE CHARMING They
say,chocolates,coffee and men,are best when they are rich.Prime time
televisions leading men in soaps (Navya,Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon,Bade
Achche Lagte Hain,Sasural Simar Ka,Beend Banunga Ghodi Chadhunga et al)
are blessed with not just good looks,but also a whopping wallet power
and attitude thats his birthright (Come on,if hes got all of the
above,surely he can afford a little arrogance.The heroine and the viewer
expect that of him!).Middle-class working heroes are a rare species on
telly.Barun Sobti,who plays a rich tycoon in Iss Pyaar Ko Main Kya Nam
Doon says defensively,Yes,I do play a rich guy,but,there are a lot of
interesting shades to my character. Of course.Rich tycoons can transform
into pretty down-to-earth human beings when they fall for the poor
little female protagonist.Thats a lot of shades for a Mills& Boonish
hero and is true to stereotype.
THIS SAAS IS NO DIFFERENT! If
you thought the good saas had taken over the prime time slot from the
wicked ma-in-law,no such luck! The wicked MIL in soaps Maayke Se Bandhi
Dor,Saath Nibhana Saathiya,Balika Vadhu,Na Aana Is Des Laado and many
more might be in a bit of a minority right now,shes not letting go of
what matters most to her,keeping a tight leash on her beloved
son,controlling the kitchen and squabbling with her daughter-in-law,the
new settler in her family.A frown marks her lined face as the saas
grinds her teeth in rage and lets her emotions pour out in a stream of
caustic comments.
HUM SAATH SAATH HAIN A family
that prays together,eats together,stays together and sticks to each
other during troubled times makes up the never ending saga on Indian
television.A family drama/love story without a joint family is
impossible to imagine! Producer Yash Patnaik feels,Joint
families,saas-bahu fights,and suppressed bahus might be major
stereotypes on television,but the audience likes them.Producers and
channels follow these formulas for the sake of TRPs.
OOPS! THATS NOT MY WIFE! Getting
married to the wrong girl can only happen on small screen.Ekta Kapoor
can take credit for it too.She married Bani (Prachi Desai) to Mr Walia
(Ram Kapoor) in Kasamh Se.Then Tapasya (Rashmi Desai) swapped places
with Ichcha(Tina Dutta) to marry Veer (Nandish Sandhu) in
Uttaran.Now,instead of Simar (Deepika Samson),her teenage sis Roli
(Avika Gor) is married to Prem in Sasural Simar Ka.
On entertainment
television,following stereotypes is a sure shot way to ensure TRPs and
very few want to be the change maker.In the telly world where numbers
matter the most,nothing succeeds more than a tried and tested soapy
formula.We are like that only!
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