Sad but true, this is approximately the kind of monies that has been riding on five shows that were launched in a span of about a month.
‘Kaun Banega Crorepati – Season 7’ on Sony Entertainment Television, ’24’ and ‘Bigg Boss 7’ on Colors, ‘Mahabharat’ on Star Plus and last but not the least ‘The Bachelorette India – Mere Khayalon Ki Mallika’ on Life OK – all these shows have been launched between September 2013 to October 2013 and are all winner concepts worldwide both in terms of content as well as execution.
What is more shocking is the fact that the average TRP of these shows is ranging between 1.5 to 2.4 (approx).
Kaun Banega Crorepati:
There was a time when ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’ used to be the talk of the town. People used to be glued to their television sets following each and every question that Mr. Bachchan used to ask, but not any more. Even an episode wherein a person wins a crore does not hold any excitement and come to think of it the money is huge for any individual to earn.
The approximate production cost of this show is about Rs 100 crore plus.
24:
‘24’ – the international series is a big hit, not just in the West, but even a rage worldwide. It’s unfortunate that the Indian version has failed to create any impact or a connect with the viewers. Internationally this show is in its eighth season, but with the Indian version we have serious doubts if it would even have a second season. ‘24’ currently on Colors boasts of a very impressive star cast, starting with Anil Kapoor, who is producing the show himself; Mandira Bedi, Rahul Khanna, Shabana Azmi, Anupam Kher, Anita Raj, just to name a few.
This show has costed the broadcasters about Rs 130 crore if not less.
Bigg Boss 7:
‘Bigg Boss 7’, as we all know is in its seventh year and without doubt it’s by far the worst season. With contestants like Gauahar Khan, Kushal Tandon, Tanishaa Mukerji, VJ Andy and Armaan Kolhi what else can one expect? All we get to see is fights, abuses and personal comments that are more often not in good taste. One look at this season, one is forced to ask – what are we trying to show? Is the show all about being nasty and manipulative or is it all about vicarious pleasures? If this is the case then we need to get our basis right.
Colors usually spends Rs 100 crore plus on this property, but this time its likely to be more because the number of days that this show is running has increased from ‘eighty three’ to ‘hundred and five’.
Mahabharat:
‘Mahabharat’ is literally the ‘mother of all soaps’, but whenever we think of this great epic one cannot forget BR Chopra’s ‘Mahabharat’, that went on Doordarshan on October 2, 1988 and had a super successful run.
This epic was once again re-created by Balaji on 9X but was unceremonious shut down and now the same is being re-re-created by Star Plus.
Well it may be technically brilliant but falls flat because of poor narrative and casting. One cannot still forget Mukesh Khanna’s brilliant portrayal of Bhishma, Nitish Bharadwaj as Lord Krishna, Roopa Ganguly as Draupadi – the list is endless. All of them brought the characters to life and sadly none in the current one even comes close to them.
So, why attempt something that one knows is a non-starter from the word go? Even Bollywood has done mistakes by attempting re-makes of films like ‘Sholay’ and ‘Zanjeer’ and we all know how they faired at the Box Office. Can we get real for a change?
The budget of each episode is around Rs 60 lakhs and the total number of episodes in production is fifty two.
The Bachelorette India – Mere Khayalon Ki Mallika:
Less said the better about this show! Mallika Sherawat has made a mockery of the very institution of marriage with this show. Miss Sherawat has redefined the word ‘FAKE’ with this show.
From the word go most of the contestants looked as if they are just there for fun barring a couple of them. If this was not enough, Mallika is okay with smooching a suitor on screen, and jumping in the pool with the other. After having done all that she keeps calling herself a ‘small town girl’ and ‘a girl who is grounded and with values’.
Well, if not Mallika, the makers should realize that the viewers are not ‘ZERO IQ MORONS’. On this one all we need to say is – can the makers get a reality check because asking Mallika to do so is a tall….tall…tall….order!
This reality show has costed the broadcasters around Rs 100 crore.
We firmly believe that ‘CONTENT IS KING’. So, we want to ask the broadcasters two potent questions:
- Where is the CONTENT?
- Is the money spent justified?
And also, we want to ask the audience: What is your take on this? Let us know in comments below!
