Why Naagin is slithering right
The television Czarina, the woman with the Midas touch, has done it again. When most producers would not even dare to put their money in the dead weekend slot, with a hard-core fiction show, Ekta Kapoor trusted her gut and went ahead with a tried and tested concept. Even the channel that airs the show wasn’t sure if the experiment would work. But it did and how. Standing tall at a staggering TRP of 5.9, the show Naagin has become a trendsetter of sorts. It is not only reviving the fortunes of producer Ekta but also changing the weekend programming in a big way.
“Weekend programming has always been non-fiction. So, a fiction show getting a TRP of 5.9 and above is unimaginable. The stupendous success of the show has surprised us all. The chan- nel too cannot believe the kind of response the show is generating. Naagin has set the trend and it can be said it has taken Ekta to new levels of success,” says writer of Naagin, Rajesh Joshi.
“There are multiple ideas out there waiting to be explored. But a lot of producers are reluctant to step out of their comfort zones. Ekta is not only a powerful producer, but she’s also always game for new ideas. She is not scared to experiment. When you are open to risking everything the tide somehow works in your favour. As it has with Naagin. She truly deserves this success for by being bold enough to take a risk,” adds Mrunal Jha, the former writer of the show.
The core concept of the show being an old one, one that has been explored in films and television, the show’s success intrigues many. Rajesh Joshi offers an explanation. He says, “The story of the ichchadhaari naagin and Naagmani exists in many books. The challenge is to weave a tale around it in the modern context. Since the subject is a myth, there is no boundary limiting our imagination. We can write anything we like. When the scope is infinite, it’s fascinating to keep creating new drama full of adventure from one episode to another. Our nevla and naagin track worked wonders. The youngsters too are loving the show. Also, the story is not just a revenge drama. Its about a naagin falling hopelessly in love with a human. A question like ‘how far would the naagin go for love’ is also keeping the audiences hooked”. In the same vein, Mrunal adds, “Today’s audience is hungry for unpredictable drama. People are tired of holier-than-thou, self sacrificing heroines. Naagin is showing the protagonist in a different light. It’s a fantasy that has opened many avenues. Besides, myth has always fascinated the audiences just like stories of superheroes like Batman and Superman. They have an unlimited shelf life.”
Fantasy
has an unlimited shelf life — MRUNAL JHA,
FORMER WRITER, NAAGIN