‘State’ly serials

The Rajasthani touch has been spicing up serials for a while now.
But now the Rajasthani flavour has become so ubiquitous on the small screen that not just those serials that have the desert state as its backdrop, but even those that don���t, are being shot here, owing to the beauty and cultural richness of the state.
Says Priya Mishra, creative director of a channel that is presently airing a historical epic on Rani Lakshmibai, ���The charm of the picturesque locales, majestic forts and palaces makes the state irresistible for directors, who want to shoot nowhere else but here, even if the story is not based in Rajasthan.Though other parts of the country have palaces and forts too, however, they aren���t that well kept. But in Rajasthan, they are quite well maintained by the state authorities.���
Concurs scriptwriter, Mairaj Zaidi, who scripted a serial based on the Rani of Jhansi, ���Compared to Rajasthan, historical destinations elsewhere in the country either have some construction done on the site, or have become too commercialised. Also, the locales are so picturesque that they draw the audience, thereby increasing the TRPs of the serials. And so directors have a reason to be attracted to the place.��� Arun Bali, creative director of a show that is set against a Haryanavi backdrop but is being shot in Rajasthan, it is the tradition and culture of the state that drew them to Rajasthan. ���As our show is based in Haryana we were looking for a place that is equally traditional and we found that in Rajasthan,��� says Bali adding, ���the people of the state are very nice and cooperative, so it becomes easier to shoot here.���
Says scriptwriter Purnendu Shekhar, ���The culture and tradition of the place matches that of small-town India and thus is ideal for shooting, even if the story is not based here. With the success of shows narrating small-town stories, the state has become the hot favourite for producers and directors, who love to add the touch and feel of the place to make a bigger impact on the audience as they have shown great interest in shows that have a Rajasthani backdrop. Also, the architectural brilliance of the state, works well with the audience.���
Says Fazila Allana, spokesperson of the production house that produced the reality show, Rakhi Ka Swayamvar,that was shot in Udaipur, ���The choice of grand palaces and the weather were the reasons why Rajasthan was chosen for the show.��� She explains, ���Rajasthan is synonymous with grandeur and royalty and that went well with the concept of a swayamvar. And since we shot during monsoons, we wanted a place that had dry weather.���