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| Diwali rush for concepts, slots and TRPs |
| By BIJOY A K (Posted on 19 September 2006) |
| Indian television's Hindi general entertainment space is at its aggressive best. As the market is about to enter its 'harvest' season -- with the big stakes game of Diwali placed just a month away -- there is a thunderstorm brewing on the programming battlefront. Late last month, when Zee TV pointed a finger at Star India, making a serious charge of copyright infringement, the incident had given away the plot of the big fight coming up. Zee Telefilms issued a notice to Star demanding it withdraw all activities around its upcoming soap, tentatively titled Betiyaan, claiming ownership of the concept. Zee said it was in fact gearing up to launch its big ticket soap Ghar Ki Lakshmi Betiyann, produced by Creative Eye. Star dismissed Zee's charges, asserting that the show's writer Rekha Modi had registered the titles and the concept with various copyright bodies well before Zee made its own registration. According to market sources, the issue finally got resolved through an out-of-court settlement. Zee retained its original title Ghar Ki Lakshmi Betiyann title, whereas Star chose the name Betiyaan apni yaa…Paraaya Dhan. Now, compare the storylines, as offered by both the channels: According to the Zee official communiqu, Ghar Ki Lakshmi Betiyann is Zee TV's steadfast attempt to address the ever-persistent issue of gender discrimination in our country. The show highlights certain myths that exist in our society today. States Zee TV programming head Ashvini Yardi on the Ghar Ki Lakshmi Betiyann, "With Ghar Ki Lahsmi... we are trying to highlight the serious issue of gender inequity that is prevalent in our society." And it is again strategies and counter strategies. On 19 September, Zee TV conducted a press conference to announce its plans to launch Ghar Ki Lakshmi Betiyann -- set in a Gujarati household -- on 25 September. On 18 September, Star made the smart move of talking to the media about its October launch Paraaya Dhan well in advance. Apart from the plot, what was revealed was the time slot of 9 pm, Monday to Thursday. The result: Star could let the market know about the development a day in advance. What makes both these Betiyaan shows keenly fought properties? With Ghar Ki Lakshmi Betiyann, Zee TV is attacking one of the two most crucial time slots of Star Plus - 10 pm, where the long running soap Kahaani Ghar Ghar Ki is playing. Letting the Zee TV do what it had done in the 9 pm - 10 pm slot (with success stories Saath Phere & Kassamh Se) would be suicidal for Star Plus and the channel understands that fact very well. "Kahaani Ghar Ghar Ki is an old show with a dedicated viewership and we are confident of the soap overcoming any new challenge in its way. But we will make efforts to protect the show. I am not hinting that we will be doing stunts to keep the viewer glued. We will be taking liberties that the story line would allow and accordingly, we will be creating twists and turns in the plot to fight competition," Star India senior creative director Shailja Kejriwal says. "The main strength of Ghar Ki Lakshmi... is its content and we have full faith in it. The soap is very important for us. Creative Eye is producing the show; it has been placed in the 10 pm time slot; and more importantly, we believe that the concept is very unique but very relevant. No counter strategy would be able to stop this soap," retorts Zee TV's Yardi. She adds that Zee wouldn't be resorting to any exercise such as simultaneous premiere on its network channels to expand the viewership. And one show that will be making its best efforts for not getting caught in this exchange of fire would be Sony's brand new celebrity dance show Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa. Reason: Jhalak.. again has been placed in the crucial slot of 10 pm, Wednesday and Thursday. It seems the leading channels are almost done with their key Diwali arrangements. With the introduction of Ghar Ki Lakshmi... in the 10 pm slot, Zee TV has revamped its 10 - 11 pm slot. L'il Champs will now air Friday-Saturday at 10 pm. Shabaash India has been shiifted to the Monday -Tuesday 10.30 pm slot, while Johny Aala Re will now air on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 10.30 pm. Star One is meanwhile revamping its prime time band as well, with the entry of Nach Baliye 2 on 25 September (placed in the 8:30 pm slot) and the launch coincides with the Ghar Ki Lakshmi... launch in terms of dates. In October, two other soaps Saathi Re and Betiyaan apni yaa…Paraaya Dhan will mark the launch of new primetime programming band, with Saathi Re airing at 8:30 pm followed by Betiyaan apni yaa…Paraaya Dhan at 9 pm. After Jhalak.., Sony's Diwali plans would revolve around two upcoming properties: a prime time soap Kaajaal and a reality-based show titled Big Boss. Though the channel is yet to reveal its plans about these two shows, indications are that they will be placed in the 9 to 10 pm slot |
Betiyaan is a story of a Gujarati family that depicts the mindset of most of the middle and upper middle class families of the society. It shows the psychology of individuals who still believe that society can be run and governed by men only.
Suryakant Garodia is also one of these. He is a known, respected businessman whose family since past four generations is into business of making traditional Gujarati 'bandhanis' and because of this reason he is one of the most respected and richest individuals of the area. For him its just not a business but matter of pride.
But what worries most to Suryakant is that will this honor and family business end with him? Will there be no one else from his next generation who will follow this decades old family pride and bussiness?
After giving birth to three daughters, his wife Savitri once again is expecting a child and Suryakant this time is very hopeful of having a son. In fact, his family pandit has predicted that this time there are no chances of anything going wrong.
Finally the day comes. It's Diwali. All are hoping that this Diwali will mark the entry of the heir to their family. Suryakant's mother, too, is very hopeful and pressure is building up on Savitri. However, finally as Savitri gives birth to a baby girl, all dreams, expectations and hopes are shattered for one more time.
The newly born baby girl is called 'Laxmi', one who is not welcomed by anyone in the family except her mother and sisters.
Though Suryakant always wishes to have a son but at the same time he is even fulfilling all his responsibilities towards his daughters, but as a man with orthodox thoughts he thinks that 'ladkiyaan toh paraya dhan hotee hain' and one day they have to move on. Things become more complicated when doctors declare that because of some biological problems Savitri will never be able to conceive in future.
His family's pandit suggests that he still has a 'putr-yog' and very soon will be blessed with it but for that, something has to be done…. something very drastic.
And as expected, worst hits the family and Savitri when, one fine day, Suryakant walks in the house with Menka… second wife. Savitri is shocked and helpless. Suryakant's mother as well as sisters supports Suryakant's act. Savitri is helpless and accepts Menka in her life and family.
Menka, after few days gets pregnant and… on the next Diwali, much to the family's delight, delivers a son, Yuvraj.
Suryakant's life changes and now he is the happiest man on the earth. Menka becomes dominant in the house and Savitri and her daughters are pulled down. Suryakant & his family, least bothered about the existence of his first wife and four daughters, is happy in their new world with Menka and Yuvi.
It's in these circumstances that the children grow up under the same roof… a brother whose every wish becomes the command at home… & his four elder sisters, whose every wish is sidelined & sacrificed.
While the elder three sisters are too afraid of their father to raise their voice against this blatant injustice, it is Lakshmi, the effervescent, bubbly youngest of the lot, who will stand up for herself… & her sisters… in fact, for all daughters & women… & stake claim to their rightful place in their family, society… & the world!
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Gimme five!
Dheeraj Kumar launches five new faces in his latest serial, Ghar Ki Lakshmi-Betiyann
With one foot planted firmly in mythology and another in social issues, production house Creative Eye is slowly and steadily climbing its way up the commercial ladder. Even as Dheeraj Kumar's Man Mein Hai Vishwaas launched on Sony, he is ready with yet another show — Ghar Ki Lakshmi-Betiyann; a social soap for Zee. Talking about the USP of the serial, Dheeraj says, "The story revolves around five girls in a family, who are different. I have finalised these five new faces, after a thorough audition that went on for a long time in places like Lucknow, Delhi, Amritsar and Bhopal. Our audiences love to see fresh faces and it is also easier to mould a new actor. I am sure viewers will just love them. The others in the cast will be reputed names from the industry, who are yet to be finalised." Although the channel is tight-lipped about the telecast of the serial, Dheeraj sounds hopeful, "We have already started shooting the first episode. It is a daily, slotted for the prime time. …Betiyann is scheduled to go on air sometime in October."
He adds,"As you can see from the promos, the show gives a message against discrimination towards girls within a family."
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