Indian express: Prashant Bhatt talks about NBT

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/open-season/1128750/

FOR

Prashant Bhatt

Weekday Programming Head, Colors

In Indian context, the impression is that a daily dose of daily soap works.

Taking a break of three months and then returning with a second season of the show seemed risky since one was not sure whether the viewers would reconnect or follow up. It was a challenge, but we took the plunge with Na Bole

Tum Na Maine Kuch Kaha, and our numbers have swelled in second season as well.

Seasons, especially in fiction programming, have potential, and one needs to tap into the stickiness factor of the show. With Na Bole…, we had the advantage of established characters and people wanted to see them again.

Unlike Choti Bahu (Zee) or Kitani Mohabbat Hai (NDTV Imagine) or Punar Vivah (Zee), Na Bole… is following a true season format. You see, a second season has to be continuation of first, with same characters. Only then will it make sense and connect.

I am confident of this new change as the ratings are speaking for themselves. Yes, we've kept it in daily format but with Anil Kapoor's 24, which will be bi-weekly, we are looking at different ways to keep the seasonal format exciting.

Seasons are here to stay

and they will surely adapt to Indian television because we have the content, the actors, the talent, and in the case of weeklies, we have the budgets too.

AGAINST

Yash A Patnaik

Producer, Veera (Star Plus)

No doubt seasons are the future, and some characters have the ability to go beyond the timeline but TV in India, especially the fiction programming moves at a breathless pace. Unlike the western scenario, attention spans are shorter here, and a break for season two will only make you lose audience, and the prime space.

Originally posted by: zandu37

Does this mean that Colors is seriously contemplating a NBT Season 3 ? That would be great !

Also he mentions that a season must be a continuation of the previous season - so Meghan can at best remain in their mid forties or will have to move into their fifties if they want to bring in the next generation (Nanhi Addu kids)

Originally posted by: rajbijz

TY Archu.

I dont want SS3 ( in continuous format) as the story has already shifted away frm MM & I dont want them to play more of being in 40's & 50's.

I think before a show starts the show should be planned such that it can be continued for seasons like in the West. NBT 2 was an afterthought hence rushed & not given justice to lead pair.
Season format doesn't mean that there should be leap which is standard on Indian TV.

Originally posted by: archu_93

Agreed..but NBT season 2's story has been very crisp and and has been moving with a good pace which is keeping us hooked..and the suspense drama is really good this season..and they have handled the issue of human trafficking perfectly so if they can come up with a new concept in season 3 and concentrate on other important issues, then that would be great..they should not have taken the leap this time...in American drama shows, they take a leap of maximum 2-3 months and pick up the story from where they left..but since NBT has already taken the leap, they can't go back and I don't want NBT to end under any circumstance either so if they are planning for another season, then I'm sure they won't be starting a new story because Prashant has clearly said that he wants seasons to be a continuation, so I just hope that they can keep it as interesting and as gripping as this season's story and not take another leap..