People crib about good content but when delivered, it isn't received well- Iqbaal Rizzvi

The director of path-breaking shows like 'Remix' and 'Sadda Haq' gets candid about his journey and more...

Published: Thursday,Jun 01, 2017 17:31 PM GMT-06:00

Kunal Nirmal Kothari

Television can easily be termed to be the world of actors and producers, where the directors do not get the desired recognition and attention that they deserve. From the top of the head, there aren't many director names one would even know about.

Today, in a vis-a-vis conversation with director, Iqbaal Rizzvi, we get candid about his journey and with 'Love Ka Hai Intezaar' topping UK charts, how things can only get better for him as a director.

Tell us about your entire career journey...

I began with the acclaimed director, Ken Ghosh where I worked with him as an assistant and we made the first ever music videos that were from the likes of Alisha Chinai to Baba Sehgal. We worked on music videos when people did not even know what it was! It was an absolutely fantastic experience and an unchartered territory to work in. Later, I moved on to editing which was great too. People told me about how if you want to become a good director, you need to be good at editing. My vision and aim was clear about being a director and that's why I took it up. I began working on the same, under Internationally renowned documentary filmmakers and then finally, I edited one of the first TV shows that came out from Star Plus' table.

Star Plus was just launched and I edited one of the first shows which was called 'Daal Mein Kuch Kaala Hai'. Infact that was the first show to be edited on the non-linear format, thus breaking the norm of tapes. We faced a lot of opposition for the same where the studio owners would tell us about how the quality is not the same and it is not fine. I have always leaned towards bringing a change and I am glad I have been a part of it.

Having worked on documentaries and music videos, I went on to do fashion shows, films and ads too. After covering all the possible facets, the last thing left for me to actually do was television. Television was finally breaking out and Zee TV and Star were just launched.

Apart from TV, I also assisted in films. Infact, most recently I assisted Ram Madhvani sir on 'Neerja'. I went on to do a summer film-making course in the New York Film Academy and I believe that learning never stops. It has now been 16 years and I continue to be a part of the industry.

Which was your first full-fledged television show and what followed later on?

There was a show called 'Aati Rahengi Baharein' on Zee TV which was my first show as a director. That too happened in an unusual manner, where I was called for an ad shoot and later, they asked me if I would do the show. I had never done a television show and I had absolutely no idea how TV works. Nevertheless, it was meant to happen and as we say, when you're thrown into the deep sea, you learn to swim yourself!

Later, I did my first animation TV show with Green Bolt animation house, who currently have the successful cartoons such as 'Chhota Bheem' running on TV. They are some of the most talented and wonderful people to work with.

Things changed completely when I directed the youth show, 'Remix' which aired on Star One. I have always been a propagator of youth shows and I love to work on them. Since then, several youth shows happened, the recent ones being 'Sadda Haq' and 'Million Dollar Girl'. It would be safe to say that 'Remix' spawned the era of youth shows and it became a rage then.

Amidst all the youth shows, a show like 'Maryaada Lekin Kab Tak?' also happened to me. I felt happy about the fact that I was one of the few directors who could do different genres and not restrict myself to saas-bahu sagas. I was pretty clear about wanting to stay in the youth space and hence I stayed with Channel V for as long as I could. I was most disappointed when the channel got shut.

Soon, 'Badho Bahu' happened and now finally I have 'Love Ka Hain Intezaar' where I feel really lucky and fortunate to be associated with this show. It's a romantic drama and I believe it to be one of the very well-written TV shows which are rare these days. The show is grand and we have shot it extensively.

Talking about 'Love Ka Hain Intezaar', how was your experience on working with Keith Sequeira and Sanjeeda Shaikh?

Both of them are absolutely fantastic people to work with. And not only them, the whole cast of the show has been amazing with their performances. It's a great ensemble cast and I feel positive about the show. Most importantly, Star Plus, as a channel has been really supportive about the show which is a great thing.

Unlike Bollywood, where directors get the recognition and fame as opposed to producers; when it comes to television, it's the other way round. Why do you think is that disconnect?

To be honest, the disconnect fathoms me too. You know when media people come on sets to interview, they are not concerned about the directors at all. However, when a particular scene doesn't turn to go well, it is the director to whom fingers will be pointed.

In television, a director is as important as any other medium and people need to take notice of that and give them that respect. They carry a lot baggage on them where they have the onus to translate a screenwriter, channel and producer's vision and hence they need to be acknowledged. I am glad India-Forums has decided to take this initiative to talk with us and know our viewpoint (smiles). And I am sure that this isn't because the audience doesn't want to know about the directors and their work. If you tell a layman TV watcher that this director has directed this show and he/she has done that other show too, I am sure they would be interested to know details.

TV is certainly changing and juggernaut channels are ready to experiment with content too. But do you feel the pace of this transition is slow and that the experiments have backfired rather than being successful?

From where I see it, I don't really understand why this happens. A show like 'POW - Bandi Yuddh Ke' happened and did not work when it comes to ratings which fails my understanding. People keep cribbing about good content and when its delivered to them, it isn't received well. People keep telling how monotonous and wrenching saas-bahu sagas have become, but when good content is presented to them, it is not viewed as desired. It's surprising how youth channels are growing everywhere but in India. I, however, hope that none of this discourages a channel like Star or others as we are sure that the turnaround will happen. Sooner, rather than later, the audience will adapt and sit to watch TV as a genuine content driven medium.

What do you have to say about the rise of the digital medium and how does it affect a TV show which is now being preferred to be watched online rather than on television?

Switching over to the digital medium is actually the flipside of the whole digital intervention, we talk about. I understand how young people have to make time to watch a TV show and they would do it according to their convenience irrespective of a time slot. As long as they are watching it, the program has served its purpose.

Unfortunately, that doesn't get reflected in ratings and one cannot judge the show's success. Hopefully, people will soon device a method and take the digital ratings into account too, because they are as important as the television ratings nowadays. I feel, web series and TV shows can co-exist and will not be much of a concern in terms of ratings in the future.

'Love Ka Hain Intezaar' airs on the afternoon slot and then the repeat would air on a late night slot. So, will the switching-over-to-the-digital-medium thing happen here too?

See, if the channel has decided that the show will air on the afternoon slot, they must be absolutely certain about it. As a channel, they wouldn't want their show to not work and a lot of thought must have gone into it. On face value, people may assume the show's success will be a long shot, but I think if the show has to do well, it will do well, no matter what the timeslot it occupies.

We have seen times when a show used to fetch around 5.0 and 6.0 point ratings and was still considered to be decent; while today, a show managing to fetch 2.0 or 3.0 ratings is considered to be a successful show. Why do you think this change happened?

The answer to this is fairly simple and that is because of the multiple choices available. There is an array of channels with a plethora of shows on every time slot possible. So, it's only natural that people would switch over from one show to another if they even find a minute of the former uninteresting. This actually makes things risky and short-lived for a maker to project but that's how things are today and people are spoilt for choices.

As a director, what the other aspects you would like to have a control on and make things being worked upon?

A producer of a TV show may have several different aspects to look into. When it comes to directors, we too are fairly involved in the different things before the show is set to go on-air. We have our meetings with the broadcasters about the treatment of the show and I especially would like to mention how Star Plus, specifically is a really interactive channel where we can be free about our expression.

Several producers keep reiterating about characters being bigger than the show and the actors too. Do you endorse the same?

Absolutely. At the end of the day, it's all about characterization. I make it a point to focus on the nuances of every character to extract the performances from the actors. I have always believed that direction begins where the script ends. And hence, characters will always remain bigger than everything else because people remember the characters and the different attributes of it.

Have you ever thought of venturing into production?

I actually do own a production house, and we have produced and directed several music videos apart from executing fashion shows and films. Eventually, I am planning to venture into production on television too as I believe directors can make great producers because they understand all the aspects. I have been toying with different ideas but things are at the nascent stage as of now. Infact, not only television, there is a particular thought process for the digital medium too which I have been working on.

We have cult shows like 'Remix' and 'Sadda Haq' from the past but today, we have cult youth web-series like 'Permanent Roommates' and 'Pitchers'. Though it's an evolution, it has changed the medium. Do you feel content with it?

Evolution is evolution. Anything that breaks a pre-conceived norm is path-breaking and brings in an evolution. The digital platform today has pushed the bar and has managed to bring the forbidden stuff to the audience which cannot be done on television. As long as it's entertaining, it doesn't matter and the acceptance of the audience is what matters at the end.

Only, unfortunately, today's viewers strive on voyeurism and that is why shows like 'Bigg Boss' work. As long as this continues, the evolution will always remain a question in its sense.

Do you still miss doing youth shows?

I miss doing shows the most. Fortunately, 'Love Ka Hain Intezaar' is on the similar lines and I am glad about it but I definitely miss doing youth shows and would love to go back to them.

As a TV viewer, what is the type of content or genre you like to watch on television?

I love the hearty stuff, where I can easily watch 'The Big Bang Theory' or something like the original 'Two And A Half Men' which had Charlie Sheen. I love tongue-in-cheek humour and I have been watching similar things all the time. Apart from that, something that is inspirational or motivational in viewing, I would love that too. I am not a big fan of horror and given a chance, I would like to do that.

We keep talking about how the gap between Bollywood and television has narrowed. However, what according to you is that one thing that differentiates the two mediums?

Budgets (laughs). And apart from the budgets, I feel television is a director's medium and he is allowed to carry his vision once the script is approved. In Bollywood, it's an amalgamation of several creative people and very popularity driven. Also, TV has to tweak and twirl according to acceptance which may miss out on presenting the story; but with Bollywood, you can tell your story.

In the end, any particular message you want to put across to everyone?

I would just like to say, especially to newcomers that it's not a glamorous industry as it appears to be. There is a lot of hard work and just having good looks will not make you an actor and passing judgments about programming will not make one a director. It's an amazing medium to work upon and I am proud to be a part of it.

Well said Iqbaal!

Your reaction

Nice

Awesome

Loved

LOL

OMG

Cry

Fail

Sanjeeda Shaikh

Keith Sequeira

Remix

Maryaada Lekin Kab Tak?

Sadda Haq

Love Ka Hai Intezaar

Badho Bahu

Star Plus

Star One

Zee TV

Channel V

And TV

Comments (6)

not.here @not.here

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He has a point. If you want change, you have to at the very least support it. Though either they start producing shows without worrying about ratings or they bring a system that properly takes into account all platforms of viewing and doesn't heavily rely on one or the other.

7 years ago

Rhea Singh @RheaSingh

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what he said is truly right...indian audiences are beyond stupid. they can't digest good content...only doordarshan era was the best because they never relied on ratings n delivered

7 years ago

1 Reply

Samridhi @BinKuchKahe.

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Yet to read the article but from the heading itself I can say its true. Bin Kuch Kahe on ZEE is a progressive, light-hearted, classy family entertainer & yet very few watch it. Gulaal, POW, EVEREST on SP were amazing too but didn't get their full due.

7 years ago

1 Reply

megha sharma @MS-meghasharma

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Pow bandi yudh ke was indeed an amazing show perhaps the best on Indian telly in last eight ten years .miss it so much . The cats was freakin' brilliant too .

7 years ago

2 Reply

Ali Khan @Alikhan2158

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Love Ka Hai Intezaar is a wonderful show with pure excellence. Sanjeeda-Keith's chemistry is great. Iqbal sir is surely doing a good job. Waiting for Preetika's entry

7 years ago