Faaaaar away from reality.. Review on Five Worst Serials of the Year

Since the days Doordarshan launched its first wellknown TV serial Hum Log, serials have been staple diet for average masses in India.

I do not intend to list any serials by name, only because it is a tough task picking (only)five worst serials on TV.

To begin with, let me make it clear that I am not a regulat watcher of serials. But still what I noticed as the trends, are listed here.

Religious serials

Since the success of Ramayana, religious serials have come in large numbers. Especially since the sucess of Mahabharat, they keep competing is special effects. The emphasis on contents is going down. While Ramayana and Mahabharat made decent attempts in presenting all acceptable versions, later serials have only tried to cash on the sentiments of the people and have considered this as SAFE category for investments.

History Based Serials

In spite of the success of serials like Bharat-Ek Khoj, Sword of Tipu Sultan this category has not seen much production.

Reality Serials

I include Police type serials in this category. Tahkikat, Byomkesh Bakshi, CID come to mind as better ones in this category. However, flood of family dramas has washed away any additions in this.

Serials based on Short Stories

These kind serials have an advantage. You don't need to see them regualrly. (With kind of pace of today's serials, you can watch once a month and still be on track!) With wealth of short stories in Hindi and regional languages, this category should have seen a large numbers. But only Rishtey come to my mind.

Family Dramas

This certainly has seen maximum entries. With TRP becoming hot currency, Ekta Kapoor has breathed new life in these types of serials. Strong characterisation, good plots have beed often spoiled by some tendencies here. Firstly, depending onthe ''extensions'' producer gets, the story just keeps dragging on and on (Kkusum, Heena, Tara and so on). Secondly, these serials depict only certain sections of the society. And even when a middle class character is shown he lives in a biiiig house, wears clothes all can be envy of, eats in top star restaurents.

I think none of the producers have ever seen (forget about living) poor or middle class families.

Why I felt urge to write this is contrasting situation in regional channels. (I mostly watch Marathi channels) The most successful (It is rare that part II of the serial also is success!) serial on Alpha Marathi, Aabhalmaya is entirely based on suffering of a middle class family. Evry scene is so real that I feel it may happen to me. Daughter taking blessings of elders before examination, Husband and wife arguing and again coming together, Respect given to elders, Love and affection going beyond religion..... Everything is so real and happens in realistic surroundings.

Of course Aabhalmaya is only an example. Many serials based on short stories (regional) have been realistic.

But with private channels driven by advertisements, Advertisements driven by TRPs who has the time to look at the quality?