Random Musing on Indian Television and its Soap Operas

PAVITRA RISHTA Vs DEXTER

You seriously believe there would be any comparison between these two?

Being at home for almost one whole month is such bliss but it turns into a nightmare when your mom is an avid lover of daily soap operas. Yes, the second half of my vacations went watching ‘Balika Vadhu’, ‘Saath Nibhana Sathiyaa’, ‘Punar Vivah’ and blah blah shit like that. And quite ironically the first half of my vacations I was watching ‘Dexter’, ‘House’, ‘Modern Family’ and my all time favorite ‘How I met your mother’. And now when my vacations are coming to an end all that occupies my mind is a continuous comparison between our very own daily soaps and those thrilling, funny, entertaining American shows.

Before getting into the actual comparison I would like to share some questions that are in my mind from a really long time. Why is it that these Indian soap operas so popular in India? What is it that keeps Indian audience so hooked to these soap operas? Why do women believe in whatever is happening on television? How can someone sleep in heavy saris? How can someone cry so much? And most important why do they never die? Why isn’t there any sense in these soap operas? Are we so jobless, so useless that we waste our time watching such shit? Apparently these soap operas are most criticized yet most watched and most advertised in Indian society. Like I always say everything in India is ironic (this isn’t funny but seriously serious).

Recently I showed my mom an episode from Dexter (till date I regret acting smart and making my mom watch something thrilling) and the reaction was quite obvious “You watch this shit regularly for hours and hours, isse acha toh mera Pavitra Rishta hai”. Seriously? My mom compared Dexter and Pavitra Rishta. She should be sued by the Television Association of the world (if there exists any).

Would the drugs, sex, suspense fueled TV shows be worth watching without sex, drugs and suspense? Today Indian TV is trying to adapt American shows in a bid to attract young viewers but at the same time they cannot offend the older audiences and that’s where they lose the edge. Take for example ‘Masterchef’. ‘Masterchef Australia’ and ‘Masterchef India’ are beyond comparisons. And only a true ‘Masterchef’ fan knows that. The worst part is getting Akshay Kumar on the show.

Dear Indian TV producers,

Masterchef is a talent show; you don’t need to commercialize it, especially when it’s already so famous all over the world.

Yours sincerely,

Sensible (tortured) Indian television viewer.

And the reason behind getting Akshay Kumar is that he was a cook in Thailand sometime before. By the same logic, because I have learnt classical dancing I should be judging some dance show.

It’s high time we get out of the mould of saas-bahu sagas and make shows which are far more rewarding and pleasurable . I am not against the very well known TV series ‘Balika Vadhu’ because to some extent the concept of child marriage is still prevalent in lot of Indian villages but daily soaps like ‘Pavitra Rishta’, ‘Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai’ and ‘Punar Vivah’ (I feel shameful to even know the names of all these soaps) are not needed on the television. India though known for its culture and its family values projects a majority of its females in a regressive light on television. While Bollywood is moving on to more female centric movies, Indian television is still stuck on degrading feminism. Malgudi Days is a great example where TV can make for compelling view and not playing with the sensibilities of a viewer.

People have forgotten the true meaning of the term ‘entertainment’. Entertainment is what we get when thrill runs through our blood while watching Dexter, entertainment is when we girls fall in love with Barney Stinson and don’t believe that he is a gay in real life (no offense). Entertainment is when Rachel makes every guy smile. I am not advertising American shows but rather I am criticizing the well-known Indian soap operas which does not add any value to my TV viewing pleasure. Even now when I am writing this article my mom is sitting besides hooked to the tv and watching Hitler didi and at the same time telling my 14 year old brother that ‘ aaj kal k bete aise hi nalayak hote hai’.

Now you know how much these operas are effecting our minds and at the same effecting the minds of young children.

Well let’s not end my first article on a serious note, so like Barney always says I will strive to make my presence here Legend—(wait for it)—dary…LEGENDARY!!! Or as the below pic suggests:

PS: Microsoft word doesn’t has any word as Bollywood but it very well has Hollywood. Point to Ponder!!!

Ruchika Thakkar

Just another damsel in distress with newly acquired love for cinema and writing. A media student who can't stop criticizing media day in and day out.

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