Reality Shows Are Outdoing Saas - Bahu Fictions: Fact or Fallacy?

From what we gauged, here's what is happening.

Published: Friday,Aug 04, 2017 18:01 PM GMT-06:00

Sanchita Jhunjhunwala

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Time and again, there have been questions raised upon the not so progressive content available on Indian television. But, looks like progressive content is indeed taking a front seat as fiction shows no longer seem to appeal to the viewers.

The TRP reports for the last week saw some major changes with a few additional surprises in the top 10. And, from what all of us must have observed, reality shows have overpowered the fiction space big time.

While saas - bahu dramas have been popular and most prevalent for long enough, looks like the change that Indian Television has been wanting is on its way.

And, from what we gauged, here's how we think it is happening.

GECs are no longer confined to just saas - bahu dramas!

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Gone are the days when daily saas - bahu sagas were the mainstay on GECs as the leading channels have a perfect mix and blend of show genres to offer. Be it Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Lil Champs 2017 on Zee TV or Khatron Ke Khiladi: Pain In Spain on Colors, the channels are doing well as far as the reality genre is concerned.

Reality shows often create a buzz more than fiction!

While there is no doubt on the fact that saas - bahu dramas or any other form of fiction space do bring a constant set of viewership to the channel, the reality shows, due to their unique and not so predictable outcome, create a sense of stimulation.

Reality shows work due to the content and not celebrity quotient

A show like Khatron Ke Khiladi might work owing to all the celebrity presence in it, but for a show like Sa Re Ga Ma Pa to work, the audience has to have an eye for good content and great talent. Many times, shows haven't worked well on the TRP charts despite all the glamour (like Bigg Boss or Jhala Dikhlaa Ja) while those with sheer talent, (India's Got Talent, Dance Plus) have fared extremely well.

The lack of innovation and uncertainty

What makes any fiction show a worthy watch is the dubiousness which most of the shows these days lack as it is very easy to gauge what is going to happen next. While saas - bahu dramas definitely do not satisfy this need, it is the finite series and other genres that somehow, do manage to keep the viewers entertained with parts of both ambiguity and lucidity.

We could take a show like Beyhadh for example, where viewers are not only fascinated but also hooked on to it. At the end of the day, it is nothing but melodrama that the shows back up on.

The viewers prefer shows that are rather brisk

Last but not the least, a show like Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chasmah coming in the top 5 with yet another surprise package, Zee TV's Fear Files, proves that viewers do not like things the typical way anymore. Mahakaali: Anth Hi Arambh Hai is yet another show in the top 5 that proves how even a mythological show is totally capable of outdoing saas - bahu dramas. With front runners like Kumkum Bhagya, Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai, Ishqbaaaz, Shakti...Astitva Ke Ehsaah Kii and Yeh Hai Mohabbatein taking a backseat, it is the only proof that we need to up the game as far as fiction drama is concerned.

What do you think about this? Leave your comments below.

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