ITV

Tag: Shubh Vivaah

  • “It’s too early to press panic buttons”

    “It’s too early to press panic buttons”

    Till a few weeks back, Leena Yadav was riding a high with expectations for her latest directorial venture – Kahin Na Kahin Koi Hai – touching the sky. Today, with the show attracting as many brickbats as bouquets, Yadav continues to be in the news, but not for very flattering reasons.

    The lady who started her career in television as an editor and graduated to direction with the Star Movies’ show This Week That Year has come a long way. After the Nikhil Kapoor anchored show, Yadav floated her own production house with Kapoor and produced one-off stories for Star Bestellers, which she also directed. Soon, she got to direct Say Na Something to Anupam Uncle. Her finesse at bringing out natural and uninhibited emotions from kids that really made the show stand apart won her many admirers. One of them, a UTV executive producer, offered her Shubh Vivaah (that metamorphosed into K3H). There’s been no looking back since.

    While she continues to be in the public eye with Kahin Naa Kahin Koi Hai, the hype around the show has already catapulted Yadav to the league of sought after directors on Indian television. She is also busy directing her first soap, Goonj that premieres on Sony in September.

    In an interview with indiantelevision.com correspondent, Amar, Yadav talks about K3H and her journey into direction –

    How do you feel about initial reports about K3H which says that the approach is more convoluted than real ?
    See, it takes time for people to get used to a new concept and it’s really too early to press the panic buttons. I would just say that people are a little too harsh nowadays in judging programmes. I still believe in the potency of the concept. Yes, we are doing a few things to make the show more interesting.

    Are you considering a change in format?
    I don’t know what a change of format means because the show will still continue to be about unmarried couples seeking to find the right life partners. Also, since it is not possible to get the same people again and make them re-live the same emotions, the episodes that have been shot can’t be re-shot either. But yes, changes in the way the show has been edited can bring forth more exciting footage for the viewers. We are considering a few things but any significant change in the way it has been shot will come up only in the next schedule.

    But are you convinced on the ethical aspect of the show? I mean, is it right for grooms to face public rejection?
    I don’t look at it that way. It’s not that somebody is rejected. It’s just that two people are not on the same wavelength and realize that they won’t make a great pair. There have been times when the prospective groom has felt that the girl was not his type. There have also been times when the girl has not found her match in any of the three boys. I’m personally happy that we have played a very fair role in the entire process without in any way influencing any decision.

    “Changes in the way the show has been edited can bring forth more exciting footage for the viewers. But any significant change in the way it has been shot will come up only in the next schedule”

    What was your first reaction when ‘KNKKH’ was offered to you?
    I was mighty scared. I knew that a show like this carried huge responsibility because it would decide the fate of people’s lives. I mean, it’s very difficult not to get carried away by the infectious ambience prevalent on the sets and yet retain all of your objectivity. There are occasions when you just feel like going and telling the bride- you’re making a wrong choice or that the other guy suits you better. But then, we need to realize all the time that we are merely catalysts and influencers. I had these apprehensions much before I started shooting.

    Why do you think UTV chose you to direct the show?
    I guess they were looking for a director with the right mix of fiction and non-fiction programmes behind him/her. Besides, those days I was doing Say Na Something To Anupam Uncle. I guess they were impressed by the show as even that required effective handling of a celebrity and children, both of which were not easy.

    A show like this must require a lot of improvisation on the script while shooting?
    Absolutely. In fact, we don’t and we can’t have a bound script for a show like this. Apart from Madhuri’s dialogues and the basic flow of events, nothing else is conclusive or hard and fast as far as the script is concerned. At every stage, I have to be on my toes because what will happen next is by and large influenced by how the prospective bride and grooms behave at every stage. Even the writer, Sutapa Sikdar, has to be present during the shoots to make alterations in Madhuri’s part according to different situations.

    You’ve directed celebrities – Madhuri and Anupam. Is it easier or more difficult to direct a celebrity driven show?
    Well, it depends on who the celebrity is. Madhuri is one of the most professional actors I have ever come across. Even if she is late by 15 minutes, she makes it a point to call up and inform about the delay. Even at this stage, she is always willing to give re-takes till the scene is impeccable. Anupam too is quite professional.

    From my experience, I can tell you that it also helps if the director is not in awe of the celebrity, as otherwise his/her objectivity goes for a toss.

    What additional efforts are required in directing a reality show like ‘KNKKH’ vis–vis a normal soap?
    Well, directing a show like KNKKH requires humungous efforts at the pre-production level. First and foremost, we invite applications from prospective brides and grooms. The profiles are then matched and for every prospective bride we narrow down her choice to three prospective grooms based on compatibility of profiles. These chosen contenders and the girl are then medically examined. Of course, we take care to choose people whose personalities are presentable and who we feel the audience will relate well with.

    Thereafter, a research team goes and shoots footages showing their respective families. We have planned out four episodes for every match that is made. As far as my efforts are concerned, I’m involved right from the stage the applications are received and scanned. Besides, it requires immense psychological understanding of different characters of different age groups to put them completely at ease when the shoot takes place. I keep telling the parents of these boys and girls that they must behave as they would in real life when they go to meet their prospective in-laws. That we have had to re-shoot very few scenes just goes to show how efficiently we have done our homework.

    What, according to you, is the future of reality shows in India?
    See, whether reality or not, the programme has to be of interest to the common viewer. Marriage is something that concerns everybody and holds a major significance in life. So, a show revolving around marriage is bound to arouse common interest. At the same time, there is some debate over what a reality show should exactly be like. Some believe, a reality show is all about hidden cameras and catching people unawares which is not the way KNKKH is. If a reality show brings to people’s homes stuff that is alienating to one’s culture, it will obviously not be well received. I guess that is why Temptation Island failed.

    How has your own journey from editor to director been like?
    I graduated from the Lady Shriram College, Delhi and did my Mass Communications from Sophia College, Mumbai. I assisted Siddharth Kak and Nirja Guleri in direction for a while, but soon realised that to make my mark as director in a competitive scenario, I would have to imbibe thorough knowledge of at least one technical field. That is when I took to editing.Once I gained recognition as a competent editor, I also started getting offers to direct. So, being an editor kind of smoothened my transition into direction. The biggest advantage my editing background has given me is that I have a sound idea of how I want my final product to look like and I kind of shoot the scenes that way itself.

    “If a reality show brings to people’s homes stuff that is alienating to one’s culture, it will obviously not be well received. I guess that is why Temptation Island failed“

    Do you edit what you direct yourself ?
    No, I would edit the one-offs I have done, but not Kahin Na Kahin Koi Hai or the other soap that I’m doing.

    But you must be very hard on the editor?
    (Laughs) No, no. See, every creative person wants space and I like the editor to edit the way he wants to. Of course, in the end if I want changes to make the scene look better, those changes are incorporated.

    I always think of how I used to be like as editor. I would detest the director interfering with my work. I would tell him to first allow me to carry out the editing my way, but of course if he wanted it differently, I would make the changes. I guess all editors like it this way.

    Which subjects do you like to tackle as director ?
    I like the simplest of stories presented so differently that they compel viewers to sit up and watch it with bated breath. I like thrillers. I hate melodrama and don’t see myself directing any of the mundane family soaps.

    “I like the simplest of stories presented so differently that they compel viewers to sit up and watch it with bated breath”

    What are the factors you never compromise on as director?
    I never shoot till everybody involved with the shoot is at ease and comfortable. I hate shooting against unreasonable deadlines where the actors are just going through the motions and are bereft of passion.

  • Sony meets its match in Madhuri

    Sony meets its match in Madhuri

    It was a celebration of survival. Sony‘s court battle scarred Shubh Vivaah, now officially christened Kahin Na Kahin Koi Hay (KNKKH numerology, Balaji tactic) celebrated its long awaited birth with a lavish do at the Taj last Friday night.

    And although KNKKH made its debut announcement along with three other shows that are being launched in the course of the next two months on Sony, the launch party made it quite clear that it was Madhuri and her match fixing talents that Sony is banking on. Literally.

    SET Indian CEO Kunal Dasgupta made the perfunctory speech extolling the USPs of Bachke Rehna, Kya Haadsa Kya Haqeeqat and Kuch Kehti Hay Yeh Dhun ( he even forgot Mohnish Behl‘s name, who is to anchor Bachke Rehnaa!) before the spotlight turned to Madhuri. Fawned over and badgered alternately, the lady handled mediapersons‘ questions with aplomb – innocuous, obnoxious and obvious as some of them were.

    While hubby Dr Shriram Nene stayed away from the spotlight, self confessed admirer MF Hussain was at hand to keep overbearing photographers and inquisitive journalists at arm‘s length from the actress. Dixit, dazzling in a red and gold brocade saree, ably fended off journalists‘ queries and gamely smiled her famed million dollar smile for the paparazzi, all the time ably supported by Dasgupta and Zarina Mehta, the producer of the UTV show. Although the party was ostensibly to launch all four shows, neither Raageshwari (anchor of Kucch Kehti Hay Yeh Dhun), nor Mohnish Behl, nor anyone from the Balaji stables (producer of the weekend thriller) graced the occasion with their presence.

    The promos of KNKKH, aired for the media‘s benefit, could have fooled a viewer – almost constructed on the lines of Hum Aapke Hain Kaun, it has all the elements of ritual, tradition and elaborate ceremony, weaved together by the talented actress, who can be both glamorous and credible at the same time. A catchy theme song, thorough research and glam sets (put up by Nitin Desai) mark the show – Mehta is not far off the mark when she says KNKKH is one of the production house‘s biggest ventures thus far. 33 episodes, featuring the first 11 eligible girls and their possible-n-prospective grooms have been shot till now, and UTV promoter Ronnie Screwvala says they been flooded with applicants even though Sony has not even started inviting applications in earnest. Most, he points out, are from young girls from the middle class who are making a beeline for being matrimonially fixed by la Dixit. That the glamorous star herself took the matrimonial plunge in conventional ‘arranged style‘ two years ago helped no end in boosting her credibility and acceptance, was the buzz at the launch.

    Screwvala preferred to stay on the sidelines though, evidently basking in the attention and affection Madhuri and consequently his show were attracting from the media that thronged the venue. Devdas producer Bharat Shah, who made a brief appearance, was basking too – in the buzz his just released film was making. Astrologers, lac bangle makers and mehndi appliers dotted the Ball Room that bore the look of a heavily decorated marriage hall, complete with rose petals and attar. Whether or not KNKKH succeeds in leading young women to a similar setting remains to be seen, but Sony seems to have met the match it was seeking in Madhuri?.

  • “I may distribute a news channel. I just do not want to run one”

    Sony Entertainment Television has secured the cable and satellite television rights for all ICC-designated One-Day cricket for the next seven years, which includes the next two World Cups. But with a reported $255 million acquisition tab, SET CEO Kunal Dasgupta has his task cut out to profit from it. At a media briefing last Friday, Sony presented the captain of India’s successful World Cup campaign of 1983, Kapil Dev, as its brand ambassador. Dasgupta talks of this and other issues like conditional access, DTH, uplinking from India to indiantelevision.com’s Thomas Abraham.

     

     

    What made you plump for Kapil Dev as your brand ambassador?
    The point is, just as Amitabh Bachchan is the icon of movies, Kapil Dev is the icon of cricket and we expect Kapil to do for Sony Entertainment what Bachchan did for Star.

     

     

    There is this huge investment of $255 million that has been pumped into getting the rights to ICC-designated One Day cricket tournaments. Recovering that is a tough ask any way you look at it. At least as far as the ICC tourney in September and the World Cup next March, are there any programming initiatives that you have in mind?
    There are a number of them we have lined up but I don’t want to talk about these initiatives at this juncture.

     

    What about an outline of your overall strategy?
    First and foremost, we want to take the game beyond the male and offer it as family entertainment. The programming initiatives that we are working on will take cricket beyond the boundary and get the families in. There will certainly be a focus on women in our plans.
     

     

    Secondly, we have to generate interest beyond the matches India is playing. And we will have to create devices that provide for that.
     

    And the ICC rights that we have include under-19 cricket tournaments. There is no interest for this now but we will have to generate it.
     

    One way is to make the cricketers more media savvy. They will need to be groomed accordingly so as to give the proper sound bytes at the proper time. Tiger Woods is not just a sporting success story but a marketing one as well and this has been achieved by a great deal of coaching on how he conducts himself.

     

    Now that you have acquired this massive cricket property, have you thought of an IPO. Would this not be a good time to raise funds from the market?
    My board doesn’t think so.

     

     

    The big debate currently is around the government’s determination to introduce conditional access systems in the country. What is your stand on this?
    Well I would have to see how it is implemented. My principal concern is that there should not be a disruption of services which is something I am sure the government would ensure when CAS is introduced.
     

     

    The big question is, will the law make it mandatory to declare the subscriber management systems, which are in the hands of the cable operators? How do you control this is a big worry?

     

    The Cable TV Networks (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2002 is almost certain to get cleared in the next session of Parliament in July. How long do you think the first phase of the rollout in the four metros will take?
    It should take about a year or so at the very least, I would think.

     

    What will happen to DTH in this scenario? The whole concept of having tiers means that high-end services can be offered to consumers which would incorporate interactivity and other options like pay-per-view. Would this not make the DTH option a non starter?
    The introduction of CAS as is visualised would in fact speed up the entry of DTH. If the customer has any way to invest in a set top to access channels, the quality of service that DTH provides would make it quite a feasible option if the price is right. It should be noted that in India what we are talking about as far as CAS is concerned is an analog service. To digitise, massive investment is needed for cable TV headend upgradation as well as line upgradation. What we are looking at is costs of up to Rs 50,000 crores (Rs 500 billion). At the moment, it is only Reliance that is doing this kind of cabling.

     

    The introduction of CAS would certainly alter the dynamics of the business. What sort of scenarios do you visualise?
    Bundling of packages will certainly be there. It will ultimately boil down to who offers the best package. There will be possibilities of a number of currently rival networks like Sony, Star and Zee for instance coming together and offering a shared bundle. India is a unique market. Ultimately, market forces will settle the issue.

     

    What other options are there available to the broadcaster?
    One possibility is to supply boxes directly to the consumer. That way we bypass the cable operator altogether by entering into a direct relationship with the consumer.

     

    If you are talking packages, then strong bouquets will still be important. Have you earmarked any candidates for joining “The One Alliance” (what the addition of the Discovery and Animal Planet channels to the Sony Entertainment bouquet of SET, MAX, AXN and CNBC India is called)?
    An English movie channel is top of our wish list. Music and niche channels are our other options.

     

     

     

    How many new channels can we expect on the platform by the end of the year?
    Ask me on 20 June.

     

     

    What about a news channel? There is a lot of buzz that a news channel is also on your list.
    As long as I am CEO, a news channel will not happen. We do not want to get into issues of editorial management as that would involve taking sides on issues. The issue we have with running a news channel is that we prefer to remain neutral. We have a lot of products that we promote in India besides our channels. There is the movie business, music and electronics goods that we have as well, so that is the position that we are comfortable with.

    That is not to say I cannot have a news channel on my platform. I can certainly distribute a channel. I just do not want to run one.

     

     

     

     

    Now that the government has liberalised uplinking, there is talk that broadcasters who uplink abroad will be looking at transferring operations to India so as to bring in new avenues for advertising. Is Sony considering such an option?
    Not for the near term at least. If at some later date, we feel there are clear advantages to be derived, then we would have to reassess the situation.

     

     

    What of programming? Is there anything new happening on Sony?
    We will be introducing a new blockbuster series slotted for the weekend prime time. The weekend has been associated with blockbuster movies. Now we are working on a blockbuster series that will run for 39 episodes. With it, we expect to carve out the weekend prime time slot.

     

     

    Balaji has said it is readying a 39-part weekend series that is going on air within the next two months, slated to run as a one-hour show on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. And the talk is that you are doing a big new show with Balaji. Is this that show?
    Yes it is.

     

     

    Still, it is the weekday programming that ultimately decides the success of a channel. What have you lined up for the weekdays?
    We will be continuously introducing new shows but they will be short duration series. The days of the long-running serial are numbered.

     

     

    Do you have any big ticket shows lined up?
    One show we are seriously looking at is a game show called Russian Roulette.

     

     

    From whom are you acquiring the rights?
    It is a Columbia Tristar property.

     

    (Russian Roulette, produced by Columbia TriStar Domestic Television [CTDT], is a game of chance where every question could cause a contestant to literally “drop out” of the game and has been a hit in countries as wide apart as Russia and Spain. In this knowledge test, four strangers challenge each other to answer a series of multiple-choice questions. If a contestant answers incorrectly, he must pull the lever potentially triggering one or more “drop zones”. When only one contestant is left standing, that person keeps all of the money won and proceeds to the final round. In the US version, the final winner takes home an additional $100,000.)

     

     

    What about Shubh Vivaah (Sony’s blockbuster marriage reality show)? When do you see it finally launching?
    There is a hearing scheduled for 8 July. After that, we will know for certain.

     

     

    But I thought the issue was settled. Didn’t the Delhi high court ruling (of 3 March) state that Taal (which went to court over claimed copyright violation) gets a lead time of two months if its own show Swayamvar launches on or before 30 June, otherwise Sony would be free to launch Shubh Vivaah?
    Well, Taal went in appeal of that ruling. So the judge has put 8 July as the date for final hearing of the case. Basically, Taal is only employing delaying tactics. In any case, we expect to have the show out in the next few months.

  • Sahara snares Sridevi for small screen debut

    Sahara snares Sridevi for small screen debut

    Its Sridevi, finally.

    After letting rumours that Bollywood top glitter would stud forthcoming Sahara TV programmes permeate the industry, the channel has finally zeroed in on the yesteryear queen bee to play the lead in its new serial. 

    The as-yet-unnamed 104-episode serial promises to showcase Sridevi’s talent, hitherto unseen on the small screen. This will be the actress’ first celluloid appearance (big or small screen) after a three-year hiatus, claims Sahara. The announcement that Sridevi will be the channel’s star value comes as a dampener of sorts after reports that Amitabh Bachchan might be appearing next on Sahara, after the Kaun Banega Crorepati season ended in January. 

    Sahara TV promoter Subroto Roy had in July 2001 set up a committee consisting of Modi Entertainment Group’s Buena Vista Television CEO Pratik Basu, programming head Basaav Raj, its ad agency Percept Advertising’s promoters Harindra and Shailendra Singh, and other senior managers from within the company. The Percept duo along with the Sahara team were given the task of looking after the programming and marketing of the channel. With some Rs 100-120 million set aside for the channel’s overhaul, it was clear there was some serious intent to get the channel up and going. November saw Sahara really get into the groove with the launch of a host of new programmes on its prime time slot, between 8 and 9 pm, ranging from mythological series to family dramas. It was around the same time that the reports about Bollywood biggies being roped in surfaced. 

    One interesting fallout of this new initiative is that the small screen will see the revival of an old rivalry. That between Sridevi and Madhuri Dixit. In fact it was Madhuri who displaced Sridevi from her perch as the Queen of Bollywood. With the Madhuri-hosted marriage show Shubh Vivaah certain to have its debut on Sony Entertainment any time after 30 June how Sridevi’s show fares will be watched with interest. 

    And judging by the fact that there there are no details forthcoming as to what the new Sahara show entails, it seems to indicate that the programme launch might take a few months. This may well mean that both shows will be ready to air at around the same time. 

    Certainly something to look forward to.

  • Court rules against Sony in Shubh Vivaah case; Taal gets some lead time

    Court rules against Sony in Shubh Vivaah case; Taal gets some lead time

    Sony Entertainment Television suffered a setback today after the courts ruled against it in a copyright violations case.

    According to the court ruling, Taal Communications, promoters of the weekly matchmaking show Swayamvar, which is slated for launch on national broadcaster Doordarshan, have been given a lead time before Sony can launch its own blockbuster marriage reality show Shubh Vivaah.

    As per information available, the ruling states that if Taal launches Swayamvar on or before 30 June, Sony will have to wait at least two months before it can launch Shubh Vivaah. However, if Swayamvar is not launched within this period, Sony is free to launch its own show immediately.

    Taal, promoted by Anil Gupta, a former consultant with Zee, and actor politician Vinod Khanna had originally planned to kick off Swayamvar on DD1 last November.

    When Sony announced on 28 August its own plans to launch Shubh Vivaah with former queen bee of Bollywood Madhuri Dixit as the host, Taal went to court. At the heart of its case were issues of copyright, originality and ownership of intellectual property.

    Taal claimed that the original concept belonged to it and that it had made several presentations to the channel over the past three years without any response after which they approached DD and got approval.

    Sony Entertainment CEO Kunal Dasgupta, when contacted, expressed disappointment at the judgment contending that the idea of marriage could not be copyrighted. He however, made clear that the show would ultimately go on air, adding that having waited seven months, he could wait another four.

    Manish Popat, COO, UTV television content & the show’s producer, said: “I think it’s a fair judgment. At least it brings clarity to the issue rather than leaving things hanging, as is the normal case in India as far as legal matters are concerned. ”

    Popat also expressed doubts over Taal’s ability to launch Swayamvar in the time given by the court.

    One reason for the “speedy” ruling could be that both sides had lined up legal luminaries to fight the case. Representing Sony was Ashok Desai while Kapil Sibal and Pravin Anand spoke on the part of Taal.

    Taal, according to industry sources had asked for a private settlement, to get the issue resolved at the earliest, which Dasgupta was not willing to accede to. Sources indicate Sony was willing to pay Rs 10 million as a settlement but Taal wanted Rs 150 million. At the time of writing, indiantelevision.com could not ascertain whether any compensation had been demanded by Taal for delays in the launch of Swayamvar as damages. Also, it was unclear whether demands had additionally been made for damage to Taal’s and co-promoter Vinod Khanna’s reputation.

    Keeping the dispute between Sony and Taal aside, the ruling could well prove to be a landmark as far as IPR is concerned.

  • Three matches already on Sony marriage-show ‘Shubh Vivaah’?

    Three matches already on Sony marriage-show ‘Shubh Vivaah’?

    Matches they say are made in heaven or as in this case on heavenly sets. Sony Entertainment Television’s soon to-be-launched mega-programme Shubh Vivaah (happy marriage) has some happy news to report, if industry sources are to be believed.

     

    The show, hosted by former queen bee of Bollywood Madhuri Dixit (she’s really heavenly, those who have been on the shoots will tell you), has seen three matches made on the sets in ten days of shooting, the sources say.

     

    When contacted, however, Rekha Nigam, senior V-P programming and production, refused to either confirm or deny the news.

     

    According to reports about the format of the show – Sony is not talking – the UTV-produced show has prospective brides and grooms being introduced to each other. They discuss their backgrounds, their families, what they are interested in and what they look for in a marriage partner. If a couple hit it off they will actually get married. Off the show, that is.

     

    Now if Sony can just get past the “small problem” of a court case that has been slapped on it by the promoters of another matchmaking television show called Swayamvar, slated to kick off on national broadcaster Doordarshan in November. Swayamvar, a weekly show that was announced earlier than Shubh Vivaah, is being produced by former Bollywood hunk Vinod Khanna’s Taal India Communication Private Limited, and directed by Anil Gupta. Taal claims that the original concept belongs to it.

    According to sources, the court case may possibly delay the launch of Shubh Vivaah.

    And for those into conspiracy theories, Anil Gupta was earlier affiliated to Subhash Chandra-promoted Zee TV, while his wife, Urmila Gupta, once a senior DD official, was formerly heading I Sky-B at Star.

  • Madhuri to host Sony marriage-show ‘Shubh Vivaah’

    Madhuri to host Sony marriage-show ‘Shubh Vivaah’

    After a long while in which Sony Entertainment seemed to be in hibernation while the Zees and the Stars did all the running, the channel today announced a new mega-programme Shubh Vivaah (happy marriage) scheduled to go on air in October.

    And in another high-profile signing after Govinda (Jeeto Chappar Phaad Ke), Sony has roped in the former queen bee of Bollywood Madhuri Dixit as host. There were no details about the format of the show available.

    Ronnie Screwvalla’s UTV is producing the show which, according to reports, will have prospective brides and grooms being introduced to each other. They will discuss their backgrounds, their families, what they are interested in and what they look for in a marriage partner. If a couple hit it off they will actually get married. On the show or off it is not yet clear.

    Shubh Vivaah will be the channel’s, in fact, the country’s first-ever reality television show and Madhuri’s debut in television, a company release says.

    Only one problem though. There is already a reality show on marriage in the pipeline on veritable old Doordarshan. It is a weekly matchmaking television show called Swayamvar which is also scheduled to air later this year. The programme will be held before a live studio audience, in which suitors will compete for a girl’s hand.

    Produced by former Bollywood hunk Vinod Khanna’s Taal India Communication Private Limited, the show will be directed by Anil Gupta.

    Swayamvar will feature 26 girls – one per episode – from cities across India, and is expected to be launched in November. There will be no pre-set dialogues.

    What with among the all-time greatest hits on Hindi cinema being an extended marriage video called Hum Aapke Hain Kaun and the sundry soaps on air being variants on the grand blueprint it set forth, the idea of making reality shows based on marriage was probably the natural extension of that.