Telly addresses taboos in 2019, goes experimental
Television has been coming under the scanner for offering regressive content for quite some time now. So much so that there is a buzz that TV might lose its audience base to digital platforms, which are churning out-of-the-box, bold content on a regular basis. However, this year, TV has turned a new leaf, went on an experimental spree, explored stories that dealt with everyday taboos, and questioned stereotypes.
While shows such as Patiala Babes and Mere Dad Ki Dulhan depicts children searching for life partners for their single parents, Choti Sarrdaarni deals with the journey of a young mother fighting odds to raise a child conceived out of wedlock. In Hamari Bahu Silk, the lead is judged for being a voice artiste in B-grade films, and Jaat Na Poocho Prem Ki questions the age-old caste system that still acts as a barrier in love stories.
Actor Mudit Nayar, who acts as a deaf and mute person in Ishaaron Ishaaron Mein, feels such shows act as mirrors to society. “The show conveys the message that no shortcomings can stop you from following your dream,” he says.
For actor Anusha Mishra, personal weight issues and her character’s journey from fab to fat in Tera Kya Hoga Alia? share a common thread. She says, “Weight is a major point of discussion in my life, too.
I’m not new to fat-shaming. People write to me sharing their difficulties, and ask me how I cope with it. Such shows convey positivity. In daily soaps, characters and ideas get enough breathing space to reach out to a larger mindset.”
Actor Sushant Singh says the industry has no dearth of talent. “Thankfully, the focus has shifted from kitchen politics and supernatural,” he adds. Producer Rajan Shahi’s show Yeh Rishtey Hain Pyaar Ke also addresses taboos around arranged marriage. “The idea is to begin a discussion and arouse our collective consciousness. And in today’s time, social media plays an important role, and helps us understand how much a particular idea has affected the audience,” he explains. Rajan wants to explore more relationshipbased stories, especially how a happy separation is better than a sad marriage. However the challenge is to keep giving the audience something new, feels Gajra Kottary, the writer of Balika Vadhu. “TV is showing such stories because we’ve exhausted bigger issues. With web breathing down the neck, the content should be more relatable,” he says.
But, actor Sharad Kelkar feels such shows are still rare. “Not every experiment would work but we need to keep on trying or else TV won’t be able to progress,” he says.