What started as an attempt to get feedback from an audience about the content and quality of a television programme, has now turned into an interactive entertainment-oriented medley dedicated to fans of popular TV shows held at district headquarters. What started as samvada meaning conversation/communication directly with an audience, and telecasting this recorded interaction, the trend has changed tremendously in the recent past. The concept of serial santhe has entered the realm, turning this movement into a mega promotional activity that comes packed with entertainment and fun. Bengaluru Chronicle reports on this trend. “When there were hardly any private entertainment channels, only Doordarshan and Chandana, Doordarshan’s regional channel, content and quality-based programmes including limited TV soaps was the fodder for the audience. The audience could express views about a particular programme or shows by writing into Doordarshan and that was read out with an explanation by an expert in a weekly programme dedicated to such matters. It was similar to the age-old concept started by radio, wherein listeners would request songs and express views,” explains Shailendra Kumar, a senior film technician.
With more and more TV soaps becoming popular, the interaction with the audience also changed. “It was started with Mayamruga, the popular Kannada serial directed by noted director TN Seetharam. It is said that when the makers made efforts to get honest feedback, they initially started with a suggestion of boxes in popular places in the city. However, it was a tedious job to segregate and analyse, and it was discontinued. Later, they came up with the concept of holding talks with the audience at popular places, but on a much smaller scale. The idea grew big when they were approached to do it on a large scale by holding conversations in the auditorium, to record it like an interactive programme,” recollects writer Ashwini.
She further adds that when the first samvada was held, the response was huge and it was followed by many such samvadas with almost every serial made by Seetharam. It was even picked up by other serial makers. “The interactive trend today has changed — there is more emphasis on promoting and popularising shows. “Nowadays, programmes like Serial Santhe have become wider, and they are limited to interactions with the audience. The entire cast and crew take part in such programmes where dance and other fun activities are held on a grand scale, attracting huge numbers,” says Naveen, a TV artiste. Held across various regional cities, mostly at district level, the idea is to garner more fans that ultimately turn these into TRPs. All for a fair conversation!
