The Hindu Business Line : Mediocre at best

Directors in Bollywood seemed to be in a mood to experiment this year — be it with the con-and-run Bunty Aur Babli and Bluffmaster or the poignant Black. But directors in the television world did not dare to be different. Barring a few exceptions, long-winding kitchen politics and borrowed-format shows seemed to rule the roost.

For instance, Tulsi Virani of Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhie Bahu Thi continued to take on family members in search of truth. Jassi shed her fuddy-duddy image for a more glamorous-sequin saree look even as Jassi Jaise Koi Nahin moved into the saas-bahu mould.

This year, the Big B returned to the small screen with Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC 2), but created a flutter over its future when he was hospitalised; 2005 also saw the entry of many film stars into the television world. There was a whirl of talent searches for great singers, dancers, comedians and so on. And there were the sting operations by news channels!

Nothing different about it

If there is one word that could describe Hindi television content in 2005, then it is mediocrity. Shows that started off with the promise of being `different' did not sustain. Sony, for instance, launched Yeh Meri Life Hai, which revolved around a young middle-class girl's ambition to become a film director.

Soon the script moved into a sprawling bungalow, where she had to deal with a brash mother-in-law and an obsessed husband. The film that she planned to direct was soon forgotten.

Similarly, at a time when dusky complexion seems to have become the `in' thing, Zee launched a new show — Saath Phere, Saloni Ka Safar. This is a story of a dark complexioned girl belonging to a wealthy family, who faces stigma due to her skin colour.

But talk to broadcasters and they will tell you that there is a high level of viewer interest in such family dramas. Hence serials that start off on a `different' note end up following the all-familiar routine. After all, the monies at stake are very high. More television rating points only lead to more advertisers. Added to this, the Hindi entertainment genre has not seen a growth in its advertising share this year.

What works abroad...

There is a scramble to acquire international shows and change them to suit desi tastes. Sony had Indian Idol, which worked on hype and some slick marketing. Now it has started the second season of the talent hunt just on the heels of Fame Gurukul, an adaptation of yet another international show Fame Academy.

Game-shows offering a chance to win pots of money are also a craze among broadcasters. Shows like Deal Ya No Deal, Kam Ya Zyaada, Mission One Crore, etc are currently on air, besides KBC 2. But can we see something truly original, please?

Creating news

When there is no news, create one... This seemed to be the mantra for 24-hour news channels, which occupied headline space thanks to their sting operations. If India TV brought to limelight the casting couch in Bollywood, others like Aaj Tak with Operation Duryodhan and Star News with Operation Chakravyuh tried to expose corruption in politics.

Other news which caught media attention included the descent of television crews into 75-year-old Punjilal's home in a Madhya Pradesh village because he had predicted that he would die on the Karva Chauth day (an important festival in north India when married women fast for the well-being of their husbands), for some `live' action.

A glimmer of hope

However, all is not lost for TV viewers. Some interesting shows like The Great Indian Laughter Challenge and Naach Baaliye on Star One, Baa, Bahoo Aur Baby on Star Plus and Sa Re Ga Ma Pa on Zee continue to keep viewers entertained.

Also, with channels such as Discovery, National Geographic and History doling out quality international content, viewers will continue to be informed and entertained. With these channels also getting into regional language programming, the chances of non-English speaking audiences sampling these shows are high.

But for now, daring daughters-in-law and vicious vamps continue to occupy Indian television space. Let's hope things change for the better in the New Year.