Television shows have been a part and parcel of life for many. The report card of the television shows have been out after much scrutiny of the rankings etched for the silver screen shows.
Best performance
Family dramas like Anupamaa, Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai, Ghum Hai Kisikey Pyaar Meiin (GHKPM), Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah and Imlie outperformed this year. On the other hand, the rom-com dramas Fanna: Ishq Mein Marjawan, Channa Mereya, Spy Bahu could not perform well and bring about the connection with the audience. Actor Sudhanshu Pandey says, “It won’t be wrong to say that after Anupamaa, the trend of TV became about families, relationships and also about triumphing women.”
Ayesha Singh aks Sai in GHKPM thinks people “want to watch simple common people’s struggle” and endorses Pandey’s thoughts. “The audience wants to watch strong women characters instead of being pushed around. They are welcoming strong female characters,” she adds
Imlie’s director Ashish Shrivastav makes an interesting point that love triangles became a trend in 2022. “TV shows primarily work on trends. This year love triangles and conflict-based stories are working. You can pick any show and they all are love triangles,” he adds.
Underperformance of mytho, historical and supernatural dramas
Mythological and historical shows which once upon a time used to work phenomenally for the directors is now gaining no views from the audience. Highly anticipated shows including Vidrohi, Kashibai Bajirao Balla, Dharm Yoddha Garud, Jai Kanhaiya Lal Ki, could not mint high numbers.
Supernatural dramas Ali Baba: Dastaan-E-Kabul, Naagin 6, Pisachini failed to perform well.
Nivedita Basu, Head of Content Strategy & Business Alliances (GEC), averred, “The cost for a channel to sustain a period drama or mythological is tough. When we did a Parshuram, it worked very well for us, because the cost was effective and we always aimed to run it for a finite period.”
Dwindling TRPs
The ratings for the some shows have been high yet not consistent. There is a sudden decline in the TRP ratings for shows like Anupamaa and GHKPM despite topping the charts, it could not crossed the four-point TVR.
“I think the audience’s patience has gone down as they have matured so much after the pandemic. They have seen so much content online that they demand better cinema. That is why the ratings of overall get networks have gone down. Also, they don’t have the patience to watch ads as they are used to skipping or forwarding,” elucidates actor Shakti Arora.
Actor Avinash Rekhi says, “TV se sabke ghar chalte hai. Every week defines the age of a project. However, this pressure of ratings also takes away the creativity and quality.”
Producer Sandiip Sikcand says that the decline is a worry some factor for the broadcasters. “There is pressure on actors and production houses and more so on the latter. However, they cannot do much until there is a change of outlook from the broadcaster’s point of view. We have to have a platform that is willing to bring about a change of content and take risks to open doors for people to be aware of different genres, shows and content. So the pressure should be more on the broadcasters.”
Reminiscing the old charm
2022 witnessed a huge chunk of popular actor of the 90s like Shweta Tiwari, Karan Wahi, Manav Gohil, Sangita Ghosh, Iqbal Khan coming back to the screen and reigning the daily soaps. “A lot of actors from the past took a self-imposed sabbatical and they are so talented, that to see them coming back is such a treat,” gushes Sikcand. “Talent speaks volumes and once a star is always a star,” actor Mahekk Chahal said. Iqbal Khan made a comeback after four years with Nima Denzongpa and Na Umra Ki Seema Ho in 2022. He adds, “Nobody works more than 12 hours anymore. Budgets have become better compared to earlier. So it’s all good.”
Arora, who is back in a daily soap post four years avers: “Makers are bringing back the actors who had the hold.of.the audiences. If there is a known face people still hold back the remote button for a while, otherwise the audience has become ruthless in changing channels.”
