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This story is from December 13, 2014

When the small screen dances to Bollywood’s tunes

The small screen, for years, has been a distant shadow of Bollywood. The amount of filmi dose on every channel has just multiplied over the years, with around 14-15 TV show titles lifted straight from Hindi films or their songs.Welcome to the era of more-than-ever Bollywood-esque titles and themes of desi soap operas, reality shows & sitcoms.
When the small screen dances to Bollywood’s tunes
Such Inspiration
The big screen inspiration seems to be on the rise with each passing year. Tu Mera Hero is no more just a song from Desi Boyz, it’s now the title of an upcoming TV show, based on the flick Raja Babu. Another romantic saga, of two childhood friends, is named Meri Aashiqui Tum Se Hi, with the song Tum Hi Ho as the main background score of this prime-time soap.
One of the recently set off daily soaps is named Ajeeb Dastaan Hai Yeh, and this song from the yesteryear film Dil Apna Aur Preet Parai (1960) is often played in the backdrop. One of the romantic songs from Cocktail has also found its way to the small screen. The TV series, Kaisi Yeh Yaariyan (words inspired from the Alvida number), is about the changing dimensions of friendship, relationships and romance among the members of a music band. Two popular songs from the 2009 Abhishek-Sonam starrer Delhi-6 inspired two shows on the Idiot Box – Sasural Genda Phool in 2010 (a rich girl’s journey from a spoilt brat to becoming a bahu in a middle-class family) and Massakali – A Love Story in 2014 (the rushes even show a pigeon in the protagonist’s hand. Deja vu?), the story of an unconventional girl who’s freedom is at stake post her wedding.
A Hindi Movie In Episodes
“People have, for long, criticised soaps like Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi and Kahaani Ghar Ghar Ki, but at least those shows had originality. But now, most serials are turning into rehashed love sagas, with a Bollywood title, script and even the songs. It’s like I am watching a puraani Hindi movie in episodes,” feels homemaker Hrishita Anand, 32. However, banker Shipra Sachdev, 39, is reminded of the good old days, courtesy shows like Itna Karo Naa Mujhe Pyaar and Bandhan... Sari Umar Hume Sang Rehna Hai. “It feels good to relive old classics via these shows. But when the script has some scenes directly lifted from a movie, it sort of puts me off.”
The Reality Of It
Perhaps the best way to market a sing-and-dance reality show is also the Bollywood way. “Whenever I watch reality shows, I notice how all of them are named after film songs – Emotional Atyachaar, Nach Baliye, Jhalakk Dikhla Jaa, and Sitaare Zameen Par. What’s with the filmi names?” asks Benu Avasthi, 29. “I’ve almost forgotten the tune of the original songs – like Nach Baliye and Jhalakk – since some of these shows have been around for so long with their own separate tunes,” laughs DU student Aditi Singh, 21.

Of Idea And Connection
Even soaps with a non-filmi script choose a Bollywood song for the title. For instance, telly melodrama Ek Hasina Thi, is not based on reincarnation, but around a girl avenging a rich brat for molesting her sister. The family drama Mere Rang Mein Rangne Waali too bears no similarities to the script of the Salman Khan-starrer Maine Pyar Kiya. Neither was the love saga Beintehaa based on Saif-Deepika-John’s life from Race 2, nor does the soap Itti Si Khushi has anything to do with Barfi!. And the show Bandhan... Sari Umar Hume Sang Rehna Hai is not about estranged siblings, rather (surprise, surprise), it is based on human-animal bonding.
Writer-producer Vipul D Shah, who’s penned down sitcoms Sajan Re Jhooth Mat Bolo, and Golmaal Hai Bhai Sab Golmaal Hai, explains, “At times, a cinematic title works very well for the soap and it gains success – with or without a relation to the script. In reverse, a show with a generic title may work better than the one with a filmi packaging. The production houses are never short of creative names. Bollywood titles are given just to gain an instant connect with the viewers owing to the song’s high recall value.” Ekta Kapoor reportedly procured the rights of the song Tum Hi Ho from Mohit Suri, so that she could play its tune in every episode. “I’m in love with the title track of Aashiqui 2. The song has a fabulous connect with the audience. Let’s hope it works for the show as well,” Ekta had reportedly said.
As long as the small screen’s modus operandi remains ‘if Bollywood be with us, who’d be against us?’, it won’t be long before we have shows called Tu Mere Saath Chal... Bang Bang or Ni Main Kamli Kamli Mere Yaar Di!
2009Bairi PiyaYeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai Yeh Pyaar Na Hoga KamMere Ghar Aayi Ek Nanhi Pari Sajan Re Jhooth Mat Bolo

2010Sasural Genda PhoolPyaar Kii Ye Ek KahaaniTere LiyeSapno Se Bhare Naina

2011Iss Pyar Ko Kya Naam Doon (Season 1)Ek Hazaaron Mein Meri Behena HaiBade Achche Lagte HainKuch Toh Log KahengeDekha Ek KhwaabTum Dena Saath Mera

2012Na Bole Tum Na Maine Kuch KahaJhilmil Sitaaron Ka Aangan HogaPyaar Ka Dard Hai Meetha Meetha Pyara PyaraKya Huaa Tera VaadaHonge Judaa Na HumEk Doosre Se Karte Hain Pyar HumI Luv My India

2013Sadda HaqBhoot AayaEk Ghar BanaaungaIss Pyar Ko Kya Naam Doon (Season 2)Kaisa Yeh Ishq Hai....Ajab Sa Risk HaiKehta Hai Dil Jee Le ZaraMain Naa Bhoolungi
2014HumsafarEk Hasina ThiAjeeb Dastaan Hai YehMere Rang Mein Rangne WaaliMeri Aashiqui Tum Se HiLove By ChanceItti Si Khushi BeintehaaItna Karo Naa Mujhe PyarTu Mera HeroKaisi Yeh YaariyaanMassakali – Love StoryMera SaayaBandhan... Sari Umar Hume Sang Rehna Hai
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About the Author
Diksha Kamra

Diksha Kamra is a journalist at Delhi Times. She covers cinema, fashion, music and the Delhi nightlife. In her free time, she likes to dance, paint, and she also plays a few musical instruments.

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