Vote for your favourite TV shows
Best TV show on Sony
Best TV show on Star Plus
Best TV show on Zee TV
Best TV show on Colors
1 Comment
The domination of Indian women over the Indian Television is no news. Every single television soap is targeted towards women and they are the ones who bring the major ratings for the shows. But the scenario of Indian television is slowly changing..for the worst. Just like Bollywood movies are jumping off the cliff from one friday to another, the television soaps are facing the heat. Not just TV shows but even channels also. It's being reported that LIFE OK is going to breathe its last and will be revamped again as 'Star Desh' next year. This is the second time the channel shall be revamping itself after Star One. So what is really wrong with the content that its failing to fetch eyeballs. Although we have discussed about it and will be doing it further, this article is subjected to another issue. Because content is something that shall always be pointed out, what needs to be taken into the account are the preferences of audiences and their tastes.
But going by the tastes, is it really safe to say that Indian Television content is mostly women driven? When it comes to audiences..it's a YES ! but not in terms of content. Men actually play a healthier or should we say a stronger part in these TV shows and their contribution is something that comes across...well sometimes...more engaging even the women. Well we are not shooting any bullet in the air. We got some good examples to prove that how male actors who themselves doesn't feel so great to be the part of such homely shows are more responsible for the longer run of the shows. In the previous article, we spoke about how the chemistry of the leads makes the show successful but before the chemistry reaches its point, it's the individuality of the characters that is taken into consideration.
According to a survey, it has been majorly proved (even if audiences do not agree) sexism exists a lot within the content of Indian Television and that is primarily due to the desires presented by the viewers. There is no doubt that women represents a show but that is just for the promotional purposes. Once you start watching the show you will begin how the male protagonist actually is far more stronger than the female lead and is actually being liked by the audiences even more. Not just that, if we take the account of the male characters on Indian television in popular shows they are so badly stereotyped. Most of them carry a single characteristic that is mean, rude, arrogant to the female lead initially, later falling in love with her but the attitude doesn't change. Whether its Maan Singh chaudhary from star one's Geet, Arnav Singh Raizada from Iss Pyaar ko kya naam doon (The Actor Barun Sobti is playing a similar character in the new series) or whether its Randhir Singh Shekhawat from Channel V's Sadda Haq. Examples are plenty but its a sad state of affair that such characters who do not respect women are adored and worshiped more than the female leads on which actually the show is based on.
Sure they would introduce a woman who is out to achieve her goals and fulfilling her dreams but unless she meets a brash guy whom she can share 'tu tu main main' with...who's really going to watch her story. Ekta Kapoor is famous for such stories. Does anyone remember her show 'Kkusum, it started with a lower class middle girl taking up as a job to support her family but landed up as a BAHU in a rich class family only because she was considered a blessing for the rich man who has some problem in his horoscope. Such an absurd concept and the show ran for about 4 years Sigh ! And there were lots and lots of other TV soaps made by her that portrayed sexism to the best. The mantra is simple ! To get the commercial success you have to put everything in the menu. If you are just looking for quality you should change the restaurant.
Although we are not saying that every show has glorified sexism in the end, Of course there have been shows where the producers took risks and stick to the point and concept and never deviated from it. But in the longer run, no show has survived without the typical 'tried and tested' formula. We are not really against having a strong male lead infact a stronger lead can only prove a boon to the story and will help further to give the much needed boost to the proceedings. But the problem is with the presentation. The creatives and the writers, while writing a show bring almost every male character to a similar boiling point. Can't experiments be made? Especially now the TV writers and creatives have better chances to explore as no tv show is given a huge life span unless not bringing the ratings. Experiment is the key to know.
Like we said earlier, there have been makers who did try to experiment in keeping the concept to the point but their efforts were not appreciated. Consider the TV show Tamanna where the husband is portrayed as a sidekick and the entire focus is on the woman who wants to fulfill her dreams of being a cricketer. The story was on point because it was written in that manner. Result - The show was pulled off soon. Something similar with Star Plus Everest where there was no strong male lead as it was not required in the story. The show died a premature end. Gul Khan the producer of so many sexiest shows like GEET, Iss Pyaar ko...Qubool Hai... etc decided to change the tide by bringing a show that featured three women as strong leads in Channel V's O Gujariya. Of course the guys were also introduced but they were lesser stronger compared to the girls which was fine according to the concept. But in just two months, unnecessary replacements were made and to spike the ratings, a macho lead(Shaleen Malhotra) was brought in the show that looks to be portrayed as the most strongest male dude with negative shades. And the female lead? Well not only they changed the actress they changed her entire character arc from being a strong, anti-social aggressive girl to a far more soft and weaker girl which allows her to be overpowered by the lead because these changes were made according to the Indian viewing standards especially on a channel like 'V' which had already a niche viewership. If this is not sexism then we don't know what it is ! However Channel V did the right thing to shut the shop of the show soon instead of letting the stupidity on air.
Tony Singh and Deeya Singh tried to attempt something similar with bringing a strong female character on board in their TV series 'Left Right Left' (Priyankka Bassi as Naina) but the show found success in having the male lead (Rajeev Khandelwal) upfront and above over everything else. So the case here...Are the strong female characters just a myth on Television? Considering in bollywood movies where people mostly go to theatres to catch the glimpse of the man who dominates the screen, isn't it safe to say that the same applies to Indian Television also? Is there no hope that a leading female character can hold a show on her own without involving some unnecessary tracks and romantic angles or ofcourse, the presence of a male lead that often dominates the show?
Let's consider all prime shows that are running these days - Ishqbaaz, NaamKaraan, Kuch Rang Pyaar ke..Chandra Nandini, Ghulaam, Zindagi ki Mehek, Kumkum Bhagya, Udaan, Kasam Tere Pyaar ki, Shakti, Beyhadh, Woh Apna Sa, Piya Albela, Chandra Nandini, Yeh hai Mohabbatein the list is endless but if you really follow these shows you realize that in terms of content they all land on a similar place. Because that's the rule of demand and supply. There is no room of experiments when it comes to commercial success. However, the way shows are going off air one after another, its high time for producers to take chances and bring better stories and concepts. Atleast they would find more appreciation if not the ratings and slowly and steadily things will change...at the end it is only the hope that works out..
|
AuthorE!Feed Archives
November 2019
Categories |