Throw In A Rape For TRP Sake

Our daily soap Queen, Ms. Ekta Kapoor and her production house are often associated with conniving in-laws, bitchy daughters, aagyakari sons, vampy mothers with visually painful dressing sense and never-ending sagas of joint families that would put even the folks at Rajshri Productions to shame. Her alphabet ‘K’ infected family dramas are filled with twists and unexpected turns, a lot like a rollercoaster ride, the only difference here being instead of adrenaline rush we are filled with nauseating feeling, at the end.

Just like their paymaster – scriptwriters, directors and actors behind this agonizing television have only TRPs in mind and are completely oblivious of what is called creativity. In their world, characters defy all odds; a dead husband is brought back to life only to be killed again, a grandmother is very much alive and kicking while her grandkids keep popping off the screen, daughters are epitome of patience and virtue, presence of the ‘other woman’, main leads seem to be in possession of no-aging serum, every other siblings are twins, etc, etc.

But what I find really amusing is that while Ekta has managed to get away with murder, tons of times under the broad banner of Indian values and traditions – she has been found guilty of something which is not even a fraction of her daily crap.

The rape scene of a lead character in her (still going on) Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi has managed to irk many television viewers, including her fans. What is even more shocking is the fact that this is not the first time Balaji Productions have indulged in portrayal of such act; the very same show some years ago included a martial rape scene filmed on characters Nandini and Ansh.

While the producers and others involved justify inclusion of such social offences as the ‘demand of the script’ and ‘story-telling’ there are many who simply label it as a cheap TRP tactic. Audiences across the nation now feel the need of censorship for Television shows. The common protest is that unlike a movie where one can choose to watch or not to watch, the same is not the case while watching prime time tele-serials. How does one deal with an unexpected, unnecessary twist like rape in a family drama which you watch with your children? Though I still can’t comprehend as to why anyone would watch such series and that too with kids around.

Now whatever may be the reason or justification, if the I&B ministry could ban AXN than shouldn’t the same fate be met with the concerned ‘K’ serial and Star Channel; after all wouldn’t the impact of rape scenes on society be equally negative? Isn’t the portrayal of joint families often characterized in bad taste in all Balaji Productions, especially if we keep in mind the interests of the younger generation?

But as usual the double standards of our officials come into play and people like Ms. Kapoor continue to rake in the moolahs. And what it all boils down to is the game-play of TRPs and embracing whatever means necessary to boost them.

[Crossposted On DesiDabba]