Age no bar on the telly

In movies, characters transform from childhood to adulthood in a matter of a few minutes or a few seconds. They do this via a song or a typical sequence wherein a boy starts running, and in the next scene, he/she is already an adult. However, the scenario with the small screen is a rather laborious process, which might take months and years of lengthy episodes. In fact, it comes as an opportunity to further drag the never-ending saga. Recently, the mytho-sociological drama Mahadevi witnessed a twist with a small girl Hiranmayi turning adult as the story added a new plot and enhanced its drama. In another instance, the boy who played the younger Shani was replaced by another younger actor. It is even learnt that Kulavadhu will witness a similar change in the coming episodes. Bengaluru Chronicle reports.

“Gone are the days when tele-sagas came in limited episodes, which would at the most run for a year, on a weekly basis. But with the expansion of television media and more private channels, the concept of mega-serials became an integral part of the small screen. From telecasting serials once a week, the mega serial concept changed it to five days a week. Some of them were even turned into an entire week affair. If the rating points are higher, they tend to twist the plot with new introductions such as a grown-up adult who was till then just a child,” says Ashwini, a television writer.

The latest change took place on Zee Kannada’s Mahadevi serial which had a small girl’s character called Hiranmayi. She has now turned adult, and the entire plot has been reworked with additional characters to push the serial further. “Since it’s a mix of mythology and social drama, the girl child who lost her parents has entered the adult stage. She escapes several attempts made on her life. She has now found a place for herself in Mookambika Temple, where she gets a glimpse of the Goddess,” the serial maker’s share.

In another instance, Shani on Colors Kannada was essayed by a younger boy who has now been replaced by a youngster. “Sometimes, the audience is not comfortable with such changes if they are done just to keep the show running. There has to be a proper justification to twist the whole saga. In Kinnari, it was a smooth transition which made complete sense. It is indeed laborious, for instance when Puttagowri was pregnant, she continued to stay pregnant for more than a year on air,” director Naveen shares.

In Kulavadhu, another never-ending saga on Kannada television, it is learnt that the daughter of the main protagonist, who is often lost and found is set to enter adulthood.

When asked about whether Kulavadhu would finally wrap up soon, actress Amurtha Ramamoorthi who plays Vachana in Kulavadhu says that the small girl who is lost and found will grow up, and the serial will witness another change.