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| Indian soap turns the corner |
| By Subhash K Jha |
| Breaking the 'Saas-Bahu' mould on Indian television, Sony Entertainment's Jassi Jaisi… Koi Nahin has given the Indian middleclass a new working-class icon who's neither glamorous nor desirable. Jasssi simply is what bourgeois dreams are all about. On 1st September, Jassi… completes one year of telecast. Deya Singh, of the directorial duo Tony and Deya Singh, is still disbelieving about the soap's success. "Frankly, we never expected Jassi… to be so successful. My husband Tony and I are hardly the kind of people who think about such things. We're just busy doing our work. Jassi isn't our first successful show. We earlier did Banegi Apni Baat and Just Mohabbat both very different and yet successful ." Deya and her husband refuse to look at the social responsibilities which have mushroomed around Jassi… "We'd rather start something new than sit and gloat over the impact of Jassi…. Do you know, for one week we sat on the script idea of Jassi…. We didn't know if it would work. I don't think we should look at Jassi… as a social responsbiliy. If she has become an icon, let her. But at the end of the day she's a humanbeing full of frailties. We're not going to mould her to suit people's expectations. Jassi…. will be what she's meant to be. 'Har ghar mein hansi-khushi Jassi'." Deya and Tony Singh are already on to their next show. "It's a weekly comedy called Bal-Bal Bache and it's going on Sahara Manorajan. It's going to be on air this month. Jassi… has taken over our lives. We've two kids aged two and eight. Fortunately they're very accommodating." The original Jassi… in Spanish ran for 330 episodes. The Indian Jassi has completed 210 episodes. "But it'll continue, though ideally shows should end when they're on a high," laughs Deya Singh. Now at least two other soaps Son's Hum Dono Hain Na and Star Plus' Dekho Magar Pyar Se have also borrowed from Spanish serials. Deya Singh is unperturbed. "In places like Mexico and Colombia they've scores of such shows. Not all of them are successful. We're not in this for money… Will the actress playing Jassi… get bored? I don't think so. Which other show or film will give her an opportunity like this? Look at it this way. We're working 29 days a month. Where's the chance to get bored or restless? You've no idea what level of commitment the Indian television industry requires. The other day I heard a director fainted on the sets of a soap. We've to be damn professional. Day after day we've to produce episodes revolving around one character and a slender storyline. There's an incredible amount of co-ordination involved. The sponsors are breathing down our necks." And the next level for Jassi? "To express herself. She'll express her mind more openly. The ugly duckling is blossoming gradually. We can't bring around an overnight change. Jassi… is about acquiring a sense of self…. We've lucky to have broken the mould. It does give us a sense of achievement." |
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