MUMBAI: Can a nachaniya (dancing girl) not be accepted as a dulhaniya (bride) or bahu? Colors’ latest romantic drama, Namak Issk Ka, questions this very outlook. Set in the heartland of Bihar, Namak Issk Ka is the story of Chamcham, who is looked down upon for her profession, but in a twist of fate is married off into a reputable family in Mumbai. But as she tries to fend off prejudice, she sets out on a journey to find her footing in the new family and, eventually, love. Produced by Four Lions Film founder and producer Gul Khan and co-produced by Sunny Side Up Films’ Dipti Kalwani, the show started airing 7 December onwards.
Both Khan and Kalwani clarified that the serial is not inspired by any particular person, but is based on the life of dancers that populate that belt, and how these performers are a part of every celebration in the family.
Everybody appreciates these dancers and their performances, but still people look down upon them. It’s not about the male mindset, but the societal gaze in general. While the entire family will be a part of the function with the dancer, somehow, they will consider her beneath themselves. This is what the makers have tried to bring out through the show.
Kalwani went on to elaborate that while a love story is at the core of Namak Issk Ka, the show is a romantic thriller with multiple interesting genres running in parallel, including a murder mystery and family drama. “With Namak Issk Ka, we have made a fast-moving, plot-driven potboiler of a show which is not just relegated to romance, and where every character has a very interesting backstory,” she said.
It was last year when Khan and Kalwani decided to do Namak Issk Ka. But then the pandemic and the subsequent lockdown happened, delaying the show. However, it also gave them a chance to iron out the details, and once the lockdown was lifted, they began shooting.
Due to Covid2019, the makers could not risk traveling to Bihar hence recreated the entire set in the backdrop of Maharashtra and outskirts of Mumbai. Khan mentioned, “We are very skilled at recreating the places that we feature. We shot in Wai, in and around Maharashtra. We tried to match the landscapes and terrains with those of Bihar. We also had people from Bihar help some of our actors with the language, dialogue and diction training.” She said they have ensured that viewers get the authentic experience of the place in the way she has shot the show.
Still, filming during the age of Coronavirus has been no easy task, shared Kalwani.
Additional challenges notwithstanding, the makers of the show have strictly adhered to all the safety protocols and are fumigating and sanitising the set regularly. They have conducted regular and compulsory medical checks for cast and crew members. They have, in fact, reduced the size of cast and crew present on the set.
The show also marks Khan’s first production venture with Colors. “We were trying to work with Colors for a very long time. After conceptualising the story, we pitched it to Colors and the team really liked it. From then on, we have gone ahead all guns blazing! So far, my experience has been amazing while working with Manisha Sharma and the entire team. We are happy to be associated with a channel that has always presented unique and entertaining concepts, and look forward to a great partnership,” she further added.
The producers discussed with Colors the language, casting, music and background score, the look of the show along with the level of glamour quotient that they wanted to have in Namak Issk Ka, and the audience it would cater to. The broadcaster and showrunners have been pretty much on the same page on all parameters before it went on the floors, Khan said.
Namak Issk Ka stars Shruti Sharma as Chamcham, and famous Bhojpuri actor Aditya Ojha as Yug Pratap Singh. According to Khan, there is a particular requirement for this show. The actors have to connect with the audiences and they have to look like they are from the heartland. While Aditya Ojha and Monalisa are from the Bhojpuri entertainment industry, Shruti Sharma, with her inclination and her talent, fit the bill as Chamcham. While casting for the show, the makers had to look for people who looked like they belonged in this universe.
The show is aired Monday to Friday at 9 pm, which is a very competitive slot – Sony TV airs Indian Idol, whereas Star Plus telecasts Maharaj Ki Jai Ho. Revealing how the production house is trying to make Namak Issk Ka stand out, Kalwani detailed, “The trick is to make a great show that the audience can relate to and narrate a story that you enjoy telling. In this case, we were very excited about telling the story coming from the Hindi heartland. We wanted to talk about music and dance, the people and their language, their food and everything about them. So, culturally we were very keen to do something from this belt, and we have woven a story around it. The story has its own element of love, hatred, thriller, mystery. There is no such exact formula to success. This is what we wanted to do.”
