Seasonal shift

Sheetal

ike the pandemic’s many waves, TV serials in India now have many seasons. The trend started with the spin-off Kundali Bhagya from the successful Kumkum Bhagya, and soon Naagin followed suit with six seasons and so did Kasautii Zindagii Kay 2.

After the premier of Balika Vadhu 2 on Monday, the makers of Thapki Pyar Ki 2, Naagin 6 and Pavitra Rishta 2 will soon announce the telecast dates.

We talk to actors and producers to know if this trend is really benefitting them and why this trend –is it because of dearth of ideas or is it the new success mantra for the TV industry?

The best bid

It seems a fresh premise with a fresh pair of lead actors for a popular old show has become the best shot to gain TRPs. For some sequels, such as Thapki Pyaar Ki 2, Mann Kee Awaaz Pratigya 2, the lead cast remained more or less the same. And if the star cast is fresh, then the names of popular characters are the same to keep that relatable factor going.

The other factor

Last year, after actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s suicide when Ekta announced the sequel to his debut show Pavitra Rishta, the heartwarming response was but obvious. Shaheer Sheikh will play Sushant’s character. The audience couldn’t keep calm after Ankita shared the first look on her Instagram handle. Coincidentally, Shaheer’s own show, Kuch Rang Aise Bhi Pyar Ke Aise Bhi, post his iconic role of Arjuna in Mahabharata, has also been renewed for the third season. He is currently portraying Dev in Kuch Rang Pyar Ke Aise Bhi- Nayi Kahaani with Erica Fernandes, who has also worked in Kasautii Zindagii Kay 2 as Prerna which wrapped up in just two years. Mann Kee Awaaz Pratigya 2 also had a short stint for a new season and will come to a conclusion by the end of this month.

Instances like this assure that the reins are still pretty much in the hand of the viewers and no one can predict what the audience will accept or reject. After all, it was a song, Rasode Mein Kaun Tha, of music producer Yashraj Mukhate, during the lockdown, which made the makers of Saath Nibhaana Saathiya come back with a new season.