ITV

Tag: Agnes Sebastian

  • ” Karishma, The Miracles of Destiny has all the essential requisites- drama, romance, action and most important of all -a good story line.” : Sachin Bhaumick

    ” Karishma, The Miracles of Destiny has all the essential requisites- drama, romance, action and most important of all -a good story line.” : Sachin Bhaumick

    Sachin Bhaumick, a writer who has to penned the scripts of Bollywood blockbusters like Golmaal, Saudagar, Yeh Dillagi and Dushman to name a few, recently forayed into writing for television with Karishma, The Miracle of Destiny.

    Slated to be one of the biggest and most expensive shows ever made in the history of television, Bhaumick spoke to indiantelevision.com’s Agnes Sebastian last week, before the copyright infringement suit put a stay on the telecast of the show, earlier scheduled for a launch tonight.

    Excerpts :

    Can you give a brief outline of ‘Karishma’?
    Karishma is the story of a courageous woman who goes through hell . It showcases the struggle of a woman since her childhood and how through sheer grit and determination emerges as a successful business tycoon. The serial traces her life from 17 to 70 years. It has all the essential requisites- drama, romance, action and most important of all -a good story line.

    How is it going to be different from the other soaps currently on air?
    Television has become an addiction with the people today. Ektaa Kapoor’s serials which currently rule the roost have primarily tapped the values of a middle class family and all possible relationships one can ever have. However these serials fail to project reality. How many Indian housewives do you know who go to work in the kitchen wearing expensive Banarsi sarees? Everybody is shown rich in her serials.

    The problems faced by the characters in these shows are only emotional not economical. Actually, her serials have two distinguishing factors- good looking people and a temple in every house. Contrary to all this Karishma is very different. It is a modern story which traces the growth of an individual from rags to riches. I have emphasised on relationships but in a far more realistic man

    As a scriptwriter you have always been associated with movies. What made you opt for writing for television and what kind of a conscious effort did it take on your part to write for television?
    Well, I have been writing scripts for the past 42 years. I began my career with writing a film for Hrishikesh Mukherjee and have worked with all the big names in the industry. I have written the script of movies like Soldier, Taal, Saudagar and the latest Movie with Rakesh Roshan Koi Mil Gayaa starring Hrithik Roshan.

    I chanced upon this project when Sumit Roy said that he wanted ‘a storyline with lots of drama’ and wanted to cast Bollywood stars in it. I had a script ready and on hearing it, he agreed to go ahead with it.

    I have watched some good television series like Dynasty, Friends to name a few. I have the ability to grasp things quickly. I love to experiment with creativity in different forms. Though there is no doubt that the format for a serial is different, I think I have got the hang of holding the viewers’ attention at the end of each episode to keep them groping for more.

    For how many episodes is ‘Karishma’ scheduled to run for?
    Well, as I said before the story centres around Karishma , the main subject which has a very strong base will itself run for 200 episodes. We do intend to have various sub plots. Though the soap has been scheduled to go on for 220 episodes, it may go on for more. Actually, the soap will be more like a movie on television. It will definitely go down in the history of television as one of the most expensive serials ever made in India.

    With the Bollywood big names on the casting list, how did you decide on the roles each one would play? Did you manage keep everyone happy?
    I guess if instead of me there was a scriptwriter who was relatively young and new to the profession, he would definitely have had a tough time keeping everyone happy. As for me– my age and experience speaks for me. I know these actors since they were kids. They have complete faith in me and know that I will not do any injustice to them. On that front I have had no problems whatsoever. Moreover, there is no budget crunch at all.

    Did you face any kind of channel interference?
    The only premise that was given to me by the channel was that the soap should not go against the Indian cultural values and needed to have a positive outlook. The central character had to be positive – who when beset by problems and worries emerged victorious. Also, there is no shock value in the script. It had to reinstate the fact that good always triumphs over evil. Moreover, since the target audience would be families belonging to the upper and middle class, I was told that I could in no way compromise on values.

    Does the soap deliver any specific message to the audience?
    As I mentioned earlier Karishma is the story of an achiever. It is about a girl who faces many problems in life and every time comes out victorious. The soap shows how one needs to put up a tough fight to achieve one’s goal. One should have honest intentions and be clear of his/her mission in life. Every individual needs to work towards achieving that goal and success will not elude you. It also reinstates the motto – Work is Worship.
  • “I see no original work on television today” : Sanjay Chhel

    “I see no original work on television today” : Sanjay Chhel

    Director, writer and lyricist Sanjay Chhel is popularly called the king of one-liners. His terrific sense of humour which never fails to tickle the funnybone reinstates the enviable niche he has carved for himself in the world of comedy. His down to earth demeanor makes it hard to believe that he has to his credit some of the most memorable serials on television like Naya Nukkad, Filmi Chakkar, Philips Top Ten, Mast Mast Hai Zindagi and Dekh Tamaasha Dekh to name a few.

    His work in Bollywood includes blockbuster films like Rangeela , Yes Boss, Daud, Kacche Dhaage, Pehla Nasha, One Two Ka Four, Kahin Pyaar Na Ho Jaye , Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani and Halo which won a National Award in 1996. Recently, he has taken over the director’s reins for Yahoo, another comedy written by him .He has also penned the lyrics for songs in Khoobsurat, Halo, Kya Dil Ne Kaha as well as the hugely popular Nikamma Kiya Is Dil Ne which has been rated as the largest selling number of 2002.

    Currently, he is working on the script of Humari Bahu Malini Iyer, a sitcom which will soon be launched under the Sridevi Productions banner on Sahara TV.

    Excerpts of a tete-a-tete he had with indiantelevision.com’s Agnes Sebastian –

    When and how did you get bitten by the writing bug?
    I am an ardent fan of theatre and had written many one act plays during my college days. I began my career as a scriptwriter with a regional channel in Ahmedabad before the satellite invasion took place. Since then, I have worked on many television and film scripts.

    What are the essential requisites of a good writer?
    A writer should be able to conjure interesting concepts and characters. He should be able to churn out stories that reflect society. He should be innovative and should have the courage to experiment and the conviction to accept failure in his stride.

    Which medium do you prefer writing for – the small screen or the silver screen ?
    Personally, I prefer writing for films as writing for television has many disadvantages. Firstly, there is no review of work as a result of which the quality of work suffers. Also, a lot of work goes unnoticed on television. In the case of films, the writer gets due credit and instant recognition. The work gets documented , thus there is archival value of the work which unfortunately does not happen in television.

    Writing for television is like writing daily reports for a newspaper whereas writing for movies is like writing literature.
    “The Indian audience is dull. We are conservative and not educated enough to enjoy sitcoms“

    What does writing for sitcoms entail and how different is it than writing for soaps?
    Comedy is very serious business and more than talent, it requires hard work. It is primarily the art of presenting daily life in a precise yet funny manner. To write a funny script one needs to think out of the box and understand the audience he is addressing. A surprise element is absolutely essential and clichés need to be avoided. As far as writing for soaps is concerned, one needs to be closer to reality and address situations that actually occur in real life.

    What is your opinion of the sitcoms currently on air?
    I seen no original work on television today. Nobody is willing to take a risk or go against the tide. A writer should innovate and experiment such that he goes for subjects that bring in a breath of fresh air and are tangential to the ones that currently dominate the world of television. The same old jokes are being retold time and again. Unfortunately, a sense of humour is completely lacking in television today. Moreover the Indian audience needs to relax a bit.

    What do you have to say about channel interference in a scriptwriters arena?
    I have heard of scripts being turned around to suit channel preferences. This is unfortunate as a script is a work of art, a creation that should not be tampered with. The usual victims are primarily the newcomers in the field who have no say.

    Fortunately for me, I started writing for television when I had already established myself as a successful film scriptwriter . So I haven’t faced any such problem so far .

    What kind of remuneration can television scriptwriters expect?
    In our country, the remuneration of a television scriptwriter hugely depends on his star value and the number of hits he has delivered. I wouldn’t be able to quote the exact figure for a newcomer in this field but am sure it’s not much.

    ________________________________________________________________________

    “There is a dearth of good actors / actresses in the comedy genre.“
    ________________________________________________________________________

    How many scripts are you working on currently?
    On an average, I work on three to four scripts simultaneously as we don’t have the luxury to decide which script is going to work and which isn’t. A scriptwriter has to be prepared for all kinds of unforeseen circumstances and be tuned to the happenings around him. I write for a minimum of four to five hours every day and take ideas from the every day happenings, newspapers and books.

    Who decides the success of a script?
    Though there is no doubt that the director plays an important role in the execution of a script, in the case of sitcoms it primarily depends on the actors. There is a dearth of good actors / actresses in the comedy genre. Currently there are only a chosen few who have the wit, timing and the chemistry required to project humor to the discerning audience.

    What in your opinion is lacking in television today?
    What comes on television nowadays lacks life. It talks of a world that doesn’t really exist.

    As far as family dramas go, I cannot express my views as I don’t watch them. I feel I have enough problems of my own and don’t need to take on their additional woes as well. As far as sitcoms are concerned, I feel that the Indian audience is dull. We are a conservative audience and are not educated enough to enjoy sitcoms.

    Also, the channels are conservative and are not willing to give new talent a chance. As a result the audience is tired of seeing the same old faces with similar antics, we need new actors, new faces to do justice to the script.
  • ‘Credible’ soap stars sell better detergent

    ‘Credible’ soap stars sell better detergent

    No longer the film stars, not even an original ‘Lalitaji‘. The common protagonist in a TV ad these days is the ubiquitous hausfrau from your favourite daily soap. From soap to paint, they help sell it all. Agnes Sebastian talks to a cross section of the industry to know what makes these ads tick…

    What is common to Kkusum, Mihir, Tulsi, Parvati, Om and Babuji apart from being popular characters of hit TV serials?

    These are characters who, apart from having carved a niche for themselves in the hearts of their audiences, have become hot favourites with advertising agencies as well

    For the last few months, there has been a spurt in the frequency and number of ads featuring television artistes. Be it Tulsi and Parvati playing dandia in the Nerolac ad, the C.I. D. team being frozen by a sudden streak of Tide detergent or Tulsi endorsing Milton appliances, the list grows every day.

    Earlier the domain of film and sports stars, ads increasingly feature the hardworking housewife and the endearing grandfather to promote products that project the ‘family image‘. Agencies have begun to realise that in order to tug the strings of the target audience, it is essential to capitalise on the popularity of these artists who have become an integral part of every household. They even go to the extent of blending the scripts of ads with the characters played by the artistes. Not surprisingly, Balaji serials like Kyunkii , Kahaani and the artistes therein are the ideal candidates for pushing several products, be it tea, detergent or paint.
    “If a person has already struck a chord with the audience then it becomes easier for that person to sell a product” – Lowe Lintas

    “We signed Ketki Devi (Daksha chachi of Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi) for the Rin Shakti ad as our target audience were housewives who encounter such pestering neighbours on a day to day basis. Thanks to her image, they were able to relate to her and not surprisingly the ad was a success,” says J Walter Thompson, Creative Director, Reuben Samuel.

    On being asked why it was no longer possible to create the popular Lalitaji like character to sell Rin, he explains: “Due to the fragmentation of media, it is easier and more economical to cast television artistes. They are approachable and do not belong to a different planet altogether as is the case with some Bollywood stars. Moreover , the audience is able to relate to them and attach a certain kind of credibility to them because of the exemplary character portrayed by them,” he adds.

    Most of the ads featuring these artistes are those selling products which are of interest to the housewife, the one member of the family who is in tune with all serials/soaps on air. “If a person has already struck a chord with the audience then it becomes easier for that person to sell a product. The simple logic is that people begin to identify with the character and thus begin to trust him /her. Thus the brands take mileage out of their name.” comments a Lowe Lintas official.

    “The artistes realize that if it weren‘t for our serials, which gave them the identity there would be no ads” – Balaji Telefilms COO Rajesh Pavithran

    For the tele stars, ads are a boon as it ensures quick money and recognizes their popularity and influence on their audience.

    “I have appeared in about 12 to 15 ads. There‘s no denying the fact that I have bagged ads because of my image. When the audience sees Parvati , the ideal Bahu, use certain products it encourages them to do the same. It definitely helps boost sales figures,” says Saakshi Tanwar ( Parvati of Kahaani Ghar Ghar Ki).

    However , there are certain artistes who believe that acting in serials, featuring in ads are all media to achieve higher goals. “Brands approach us because they want their products to sell.

    Barring shampoos and soft drinks, I have endorsed everything else. The brands trust me and my ability to perform and gel with people . I am somehow able to convince them into buying the product. Though I admit that Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi has given a boost to my popularity, I featured in the Whirpool ad much before it happened,” says Aman Varma who believes that the serials and ads have helped him achieve his ultimate goal in life which is to act in movies. He has signed five movies so far.

    Interestingly, with the increase in ads featuring such small screen artists, the production houses face the obvious problems of rescheduling dates when they clash with those of ads.

    “Woman characterization has worked. It is a compliment to us when we see our artistes endorsing top brands. However, it does become a wee bit difficult when the shooting schedules for ads and the serials begin to clash. However the artistes realize that if it weren‘t for our serials, which gave them the identity there would be no ads,” says Balaji Telefilms, COO, Rajesh Pavithran.

    “The brands trust me and my ability to perform and gel with people” – Aman Verma

    All this simply reinstates the fact that the small screen is still the most powerful medium of communication today and that the soaps cannot be written off as simple modes of entertainment alone. Soaps not only spell the success of a channel but also that of certain products and the advertising world. With Bollywood stars like Karisma Kapoor and Sridevi all set to make their debut on the small screen, the power of the idiot box and its many characters is only going to increase.