New mantra for local soaps

Kannada film industry has been experiencing huge growth with more than a 100 feature films releasing a year, and so is the Kannada television industry. Though not in hundreds, but the small world is taking its own big step with more and more new television soaps, programmes and reality shows keeping the audience hooked on their television sets.

While the older ones  continue to churn out rating points for the makers and the channels, the new breed have turned it into a competition to stay on top. Bengaluru Chronicle reports on the surge of new shows especially new television soaps which are getting bigger and bigger in terms of its making, and innovative tales for w change away from the usual melodrama revolving around the family sentiments.

“Movies and serials have very little differences at present. While a film is restricted by time as it need to wrap up in less than three hours, the serials go on endlessly. Every month, a new soap or show is getting launched,  “ Making a serials has become a costly affair and also a profitable one, which is why even film stars like Puneeth Rajkumar, Kiccha Sudeep and Shivarajkumar have already started producing serials. Even Yash is eagerly waiting to produce ones,” says Kowshik, director.

Another reason behind the surge in the number of serials/shows is the stiff competition amongst channels. “The generation of revenue is solely based on how popular a show is, and hence if a TV show or a particular show fails to grab the ‘eyeballs’ and keep viewers interested, it quickly ends, and another serial is in queue to take its place,” says Vinay, a TV soap producer.

In past, serials or shows were limited and they used to get telecast once a week unlike the present where soaps are not only aired on a daily basis but even have a repeat telecast to suit the audience timings. “The making has improved a lot and so have  the stories. Even the serial makers have started to think outside the box with new ideas to attract the audience. But the quality has received a heavy beating with quality of language being neglected. It’s all about entertainment, and anything which entertains is the subject. Even social messages have started to make their way,” says Harsha, an associate director,  adding that foreign shooting, promotions, star cast, expensive sets and innovation are the new mantra on Kannada television.