Television's Face-off - 2008...

2008 can be termed as the year which changed the face of Indian Television. It broke many records, the unexpected happened, and overall, the year turned out to be a mixed bag of both surprisingly pleasant as well some really unpleasant incidents.
 
However, Telly Buzz gives you a gist of 'Unforgettable' Incidents of 2008….




The Final Goodbye....

Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, the show which gave TV its recognition and ruled the TRP charts for a decade finally came to an end..(Or can we say, an abrupt end??) Also, the longest living character in the show Baa who had survived many hiccups died over night, and that too at a time when the show was bidding adieu. We also saw 'The End' board shown for the other popular K-shows, Kasautii Zindagi Ki and Kahaani Ghar Ghar Ki. This left the viewers with a mixed bag of emotions, but the change was overall accepted by the audience!!



The New Numero Uno arrives....
 
Well, as Kyunki saw a drop in TRPs, the very simplistic and realistic story telling of Rajan Shahi in Sapna Babul Ka Bidaai won all the accolades, and surged ahead in the TRP chart. The lead protagonists have now become household names, so much so that the channel treated the viewers to a 'Double' bonanza by showing a 1-hour special on a temporary basis.

Refreshing Rang of Television...

Mid 2008 saw a refreshing change, with the emergence of the new channel COLORS. Some of their shows have acted as the 'Rainbow' in a gloomy sky! Spare a thought to the fact that their three best shows have the brilliance of kids in them..be it the very adorable kids Anandi and Jagdish in Balika Vadhu, Bal Krishna in Jai Shri Krishna, or the newly launched Uttaran where the girl Ichcha thrives on the 'Uttaran' of a rich girl, Tapasya. Though COLORS was launched way after 9X and NDTV Imagine were launched, but it has surged ahead in the race, to be noted as the new 'IN' channel of 2008…

Tellywood se Bollywood ka Safar...

Rajeev Khandelwal & Prachi Desai - amongst television's most popular stars treaded the Bollywood path..and tasted success! All we'd like to say to them is 'Rock On'! 2009 will see some more Television stars on their path to Bollywood.. We wish them All the Best and Success!



Bollywood se Tellywood ka Safar...

While television stars forayed onto the big screen, some Big stars found their way to television! Stars like Akshay Kumar, Salman Khan, Shilpa Shetty, Urmila Matondkar and SRK again..all found their foothold in hosting reality shows on television.




The Trend Setters...

The trend of mythological shows which started in the late 80's came to the fore yet again this year with NDTV Imagine giving us Ramayan. This mytho fever even stuck the 'Queen of Soaps' Ekta Kapoor, as she re-launched Mahabharat, as 'Kahaani Hamari Mahabharat Ki' in typical Ekta 'ishtyle'. (Whether this was a good move or not, is another question altogether!!) Also adding up to this trend was COLORS' 'Jai Shri Krishna' which beautifully depicted the life of Bal Gopal.
 
In addition to Mythos, the year has been famous for its 'Reincarnation' plots. Though this got started by Kaajal last year, two big shows Banoo Main Teri Dulhann and Kumkum Pyaara Sa Bandhan saw their favorite on screen jodis being killed, and getting reborn again!! (Well, it is still to be seen whether they finally unite in this janm or not!!)

Speaking of trend setters, the youth based shows like 'Dill Mill Gayye' and 'Miley Jab Hum Tum' have surely cast a spell on the viewers, and hope this carries on for long..

Back on 'Public Demand'...
 
Remember, when heart throb Mihir Virani was brought back from the 'dead', courtesy public demand? Well, it happened yet again this year, as everyone's favorite Bahu, Tulsi aka Smriti Irani returned to 'Kyunki', as the viewers wanted this change.





Television Blackout..
 
This had never happened in Tellyland! With everyone's demands soaring, the frustration of viewers soared to a point of 'no-end', as our dear idiot box was flooded with only re-runs of their favorite shows!! The entire industry, starting from the broadcasters and producers to the spot boys working, suffered irreparable losses…

Miscellaneous Controversies of the Year..
 
Any analysis is incomplete without 'Controversies', and the television industry had its own spice and flavor this year..

While the popular Shilpa Anand was replaced by Sukriti Khandpal in Dill Mill Gayye, the very adorable Bani (Prachi Desai) in Kasamh Se found a new face in Gurdeep Kohli. Well, the list does not end here, as Reena Kapoor who left Woh Rehne Wali Mehlon Ki for greener pastures was later brought back to the same show, in the skin of a new character. Nikhil Arya got into the shoes of the mighty Iqbal Khan in Choona Hai Aasmaan, but failed to even carve a name for himself, leave alone touch 'Aasmaan'.
 
The list of controversies is, again, incomplete without mentioning the 'Reality Shows', which get popular for the cat fights between judges, various walkouts and staged drama. Well, the bottom line is that 'TRP ke liye kuch bhi karega', but have the viewers not gotten smarter now??





Indeed, 2008 has been an eventful year when it comes to television!! As we now set foot into the New Year, we look forward to more trendsetters!

Concept and Author, Banner Credit: Shagun
GIFs Credit: Supriyo Das