No kidding After Hrs finds out why there is an influx of serials with kids on TV, at present

No kidding

After Hrs finds out why there is an influx of serials with kids on TV, at present

Hitherto the girl child ruled prime time with serials like Balika Vadhu, Uttaran, Agle Janam Mohe Bitiya Hi Kijo and Sabki Laadli Bebo, but that’s not the case anymore. The trend now is to have multiple kids in a serial. There are three kids in the mature drama Kya Hua Tera Vaada, the female protagonist in Na Bole Tum Na Maine Kuch Kaha is a widow and has two kids, Punar Vivaah has three kids between a divorcee and a widower and last, but not the least Parrvarish has four children. Kids as we have seen in the past are the surest way of garnering viewership. The success of past serials, be it a social Balika Vadhu or a historical Jhansi Ki Rani are testimony to that. However, Prashaant Bhatt, Programming Head, Colors, maintains that they involve children in their shows only if there is a requirement to take the story forward. But yes, children give a fresh lease of life to the conventional saas-bahu shows “thanks to their innocence which strikes a chord with the audience,” he says. Sudhir Sharma, who is producing Na Bole Tum Na Maine Kuch Kaha, avers that kids form a major part of the target audience, whether it is commercials or serials, but that solely is not the criteria for including them. “My serial is not just about widow re-marriage, it is about the tangible relationship between her daughter Nanhi and the male lead actor Mohan. For Mohan, who is a bachelor, it will be quite a challenge to adapt to a family, and fortunately the beautiful bond between Nanhi and Mohan is grabbing eyeballs.” Virendra Shahane, head of fiction programming, Sony, admits that kids add more spice to the drama. “Today the main protagonists are middle-aged women who are bound to have children,” he says. Sukesh Motwani, fiction head, Zee, agrees saying that broadcasters are exploring newer themes and the ‘younger heroine is no longer the reference point’. Interestingly, even the kids who are acting in the serials are gung-ho about it. Says Asnoor Kaur aka ‘Nanhi’, “My mother is always with me when I am shooting and makes sure that I complete my homework whenever I get a break. The producer and director allow me to pack up early so that I can play with my friends. Acting is my hobby and I love it.” Sparsh Khanchandani aka ‘Rashi’ of Parrvarish doesn’t mind being on the sets everyday from 2 pm to 9 pm after school. The fact that everyone in school calls her Rashi is a big achievement for this 12 year old. No wonder, we’re seeing so many little ones on the telly today!