Indian soaps sa(a)ns bahus

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal"><script language="javascript">doweshowbellyad=0; </script><br />MUMBAI: Moving away from ''kitchen politics'', Indian television serials are coming of age, what with ''realism in drama'' replacing the usual <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">saas-bahu</span> saga.<br /><br /><img align="left" src="/photo/702142.cms" alt="/photo/702142.cms" border="0" />Following the success of serials of a different genre like <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin</span> and the rising popularity of <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Saaksshi</span> and <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Yeh Meri Life Hai</span>, the average woman is in the limelight and her aspirations are the new mantra for capturing audience attention.<br /><br />Jassi is the story of a simple girl with a high profile job at a fashion house, while <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Saaksshi</span> is an undercover cop who leads a quiet life as a middle-class girl.<br /><br />On the other hand, Pooja in <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Yeh Meri Life Hai</span> comes from a typical Gujarati household, struggling to be a film director.<br /><br />"We do not want to add to the existing clutter on television," says Tarun Katial, executive vice president of programming and response, Sony Entertainment Television, about the channel''s decision to explore new themes.The new shows, betting on the ethos of middle-class Indians, are giving tough competition to the popular <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">saas bahu</span> capers. "<span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Jassi.</span> proved to us that viewers are ready to accept fresher alternatives, and we are now exploring different themes," Katial adds.<br /><br />The question is whether a new trend is emerging on television. "I hope so," says creative director of <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Saaksshi</span> Sunil Mehta who feels that the ''K'' serials have been done to death. "We are trying to move away from the current successful formula," he adds.<br /><br /></div> </div><div class="section2"><div class="Normal">Actor Rinku Dhawan, <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Chhaya</span> of <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Kahani Ghar Ghar Ki</span> fame says that the new shows are targeting the youth who constantly look for change. "Family dramas cater to the middle-class housewife, who may watch other serials out of curiosity but will always remain loyal to the <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">saas bahu</span> serials," Dhawan adds.<br /><br />Creative director of <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Yeh Meri Life Hai,</span> Gursheel Walia adds that audiences, who do not identify with the glamorous characters of the ''K'' serials, are looking forward to newer concepts. "There is a huge market to be tapped and we are trying to fill the gap," Walia says.<br /><br />Kiran Karmarkar (Om bhaiyya of <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Kahani</span>..'') says, "Unlike news channels where the subject is very topical, the trend for the entertainment channel is very stable and takes time to change." He feels that <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">saas bahu</span> dramas are here to stay for at least another couple of years.<br /><br />Ashok Pandit, director of the popular comedy <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Filmi Chakkar</span> and the critically acclaimed <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Mukammal</span>, feels that programming in India has not evolved much. "We are still selling old wine in new bottles."<br /><br />Citing examples of serials in the past, he says that when <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Hum Log</span> became successful, it inspired a wave of similar family dramas, also when <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Tara</span> hit the bull''s eye in the mid-nineties, it inspired similar stories. And now that serials with middleclass protagonists have tasted success, similar serials will be endlessly churned out, Pandit adds.</div> </div>