Naagins and daayans rule over saas-bahu sagas

In this day and age, it might be a little difficult to decide if we should rejoice over the fact that we have moved on from saas bahu sagas or feel sad about landing in the lap of naagins and daayans. Yes, the latest trend on the small screen is that of supernatural and going by the success of Naagin, which set a new benchmark across channels, the makers are now cashing in on the fad big time.

Since TV is largely dictated by TRPs, even family entertainers like Ye Hai Mohabbatein, Bhabhi Ji Ghar Par Hain and Sasural Simar Ka have introduced tracks with spooky and supernatural elements to add to the viewership thrill. While Sasural Simar Ka showed Simar (Dipika Kakar) turning into a fly, Ishita (Diavyanka Tripathi) was shown possessed with Raman's ex-wife Shagun's spirit. With all this, how could Anita Bhabhi aka Saumya Tandon be far behind? She recently became a 'khooni dulhan' on &TV's popular show 'Bhabi Ji'.

Considering Kawach, which replaced Naagin on Colors, has also topped the charts, it seems the trend is far from fading. While many might argue the content as regressive, the truth of the matter was well put by Mona Singh in an IANS interview, where she had said, "Most of the ratings we are getting are from small towns and not metropolitan cities. The show is massy...Why we are doing is because it works. It's commercially viable." To add to that, the witches and daayans are shown to be beautiful women, and they are certainly considered less terrifying than the typical horror shows.

Even though we continue to fight the West against their perception of India being the land of snakes and witchcraft, these serials certainly displease the urban audience in metropolitan cities and are a setback to the ongoing global debate.

Actress Dipika Kakar, who became a victim of Twitter trolls for turning into a fly, and who is now pregnant with a devil's child in Sasural Simar Ka, defended her show while talking to TimesofIndia.com. She said "Our show delves deep into the world of fantasy and folklore. Tales of good triumphing over evil and stories of adventures have always been the bedrock of all our bedtime stories. By introducing supernatural elements or characters in the show, it gives the audience a chance to relive their childhood memories."

Given it's success, TV actors also do not have any inhibitions to be a part of such shows. TV czarina Ekta Kapoor, head of Balaji Productions, is busy exploring the supernatural, thriller genre which she feels hasn't been exploited to its full potential, visually or otherwise. She believes if the west can embrace shows like Game of Thrones and Twilight, then the Indian audience should also accept its folklore and culture.

As much as we hate to admit it, since it is beneficial for producers and makers, do not expect the makhis, ichchadhari naagins and possessed souls to go anywhere from the small screen yet. Ultimately, it is the ratings which dictate the term of a show, and by what we know so far, supernatural is surely here to stay.
WATCH: Behind the scenes - Maheck Chahal and Mona Singh shoot for Kawach