TV serial producers are using popular song lyrics in their titles like never before. But does packaging a familiar tune ensure a sure shot win at the TRP battle? Divya Kapoor finds out
In 1991, when Mahesh Bhatt borrowed lines from an old Dev Anand starrer for his film Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin ' which went on to become a huge hit ' little did he know that he was fueling a trend not only his fellow industry walas would follow for years but it would be adapted with a feeding frenzy on the small screen as well. Serials like Bade Acche Lagte Hain, Kuch Toh Log Kahenge, Sasural Genda Phool, Sapno Se Bhare Naina, Diya Aur Baati Hum and Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon only reiterate the success of this formula.
There's a lot in a name
Though Bhatt joking "pleaded guilty" recently for "starting the trend of using mukhda of hit songs as titles for films like Hum Hai Rahi Pyaar Ke and Phir Teri Kahani Yaad Aayee", TV producers are more than willing to opt for this trend. Producer Ekta Kapoor, whose serial Bade Acche Lagte Hain features two of the biggest stars of television, Ram Kapoor and Sakshi Tanwar, may just say that, "I love the song and I had got the title registered about six years ago," the show was touted as a matured love story, which traces the story of two strangers getting married and gradually falling in love. This is exactly what happened in 1976 film Balika Badhu too with the only exception of the couple being an adolescent, nave one.
Does a song then, after all, does have a role to play in making a serial a hit? Freelance director Chandramauli Basu, who has produced many reality shows, simply puts it by saying, "People think in these terms: if the original song or movie was so good, this serial can't be all that bad."
Mera wala song!
The line 'Sasural Genda Phool' wouldn't have held much significance for most people had A R Rahman not converted it into a folky-funky song in Dilli 6. Just when the song was being played frantically at all radio stations, Star Plus decided to cash in on its popularity by announcing a serial with the same name. "The most important thing in the television business is to make an idea click with the audience. Sasural' had a strong connect with people and so the title was a comfortable and safe option," says TV serial director Deeya Singh who has produced shows like Choti Bahu and Maryada: Lekin Kab Tak. "To create interest in an original name is always difficult than creating it in a familiar tune," she adds.
Singh says that since a pleasant song always finds space in people's memory, it becomes easier for producers to relate it with a storyline, even if the story is loosely based on the title. "If you go to watch a movie with an interesting name and realise that story wasn't good or the name had nothing to do with the script, you will advise your friends not to watch it. But serials, many a times start on a note that is in sync with the title but reach a bizarre point where the story has nothing to do with its name. Even then, these programmes continue garnering TRPS," she adds.
Agrees Rajan Shahi, producer of Kuch Toh Log Kahenge (KTLK) and says that, "Some songs happen to be evergreen and a lot of times people begin to watch serials just because they happen to be the names of their favourite songs and gradually develop interest." According to Shahi, "The storyline falls perfectly in line with its title. The show is about a 38-year-old doctor who falls in love with an MBBS graduate but is unable to express his feelings because of the age gap and thinks 'log kya kahenge.'
No shortcut to success
Basu is of the opinion that ultimately it all boils down to the program's story. "The title helps achieve only an instant recall. A few episodes later, if the storyline is not good enough, people will lose interest. So it can turn out to be a great platform if everything including the cast, script and production value is intact but it is no indefinite formula to success," he states.
Precisely why, TRPs of serials like Bade Acche Lagte Hain (2.93), Kuch Toh Log Kahenge (2.92) ' which garnered huge interest in their first few months ' now struggling to beat Saathiya Saath Nibhana (5.11) and Balika Vadhu (3.89).
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Wonder how the TRP's of KTLK is already up even if teh show is not aired, Lagtha hai Gana has got its vibes
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