Rebirth of mysticism

Manisha Sharma, Programming Head at Colors TV whose recently launched show Nagin incorporates reincarnation as a central plot point, says that one of the primary reasons for the subject’s current popularity is that it roots back to times that they have heard or read about, creating a sense of unfamiliarity. She says, “In reincarnation, we are revisiting folklore that the Indian audience has grown up with — be it through a tale narrated to us by our grandparents or through relatively older films. The trend has penetrated into television in the form of mysticism-oriented tracks and storylines that are finding many takers among the present generation of viewers too. The concept is something that appeals to viewers across all target groups, including even the discerning male audience,” she says.

Trade analyst Nishikant Choubey agrees and argues, “Themes like reincarnation present an epic multi-platform universe that is entwined with cultivated philosophical and religious values, and surely strikes a chord with telly viewers. There is nothing wrong in repeating similar themes as it is an ultimate crowd-pleaser.”

For advertising professional Akshay Singh, “I really thought my mother was joking when she told me that we will actually have a tele series on nagins!!! Then I came to know that the show was real! I am still a bit traumatised over two factors — one, why on earth would anyone want to see something like this and two, why in the world are sane television production houses losing their cinematic minds? Even in Hollywood, movies and series about the afterlife and reincarnation are a recurring phenomenon for some directors, but I am really annoyed because we in India are yet to witness anything that’s even remotely close to these examples. And what’s adding insult to injury is the graphic front, which is sadly underdeveloped.”