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Can you believe we have come to the end of the year? How did it even fly by so fast? In the midst of it all, Indian television provided a source of strength, distraction and inspiration during the year. Let’s take a look at the standout shows and trends observed this year.
This year, love-triangles finally reached saturation for the most part, and this was clearly observed with new shows which tried the love-triangle formula but did not quite leave an impression on the audience. What did begin to work this year, was content beginning to mirror society and real-life lifestyles and family situations which viewers themselves face.
Leading the charge in this was Rahul Tewary and Rolling Tales’ Udne Ki Aasha which made its debut during the year. The show tells the story of a typical middle-class Maharashtrian family which most viewers worldwide could connect with. Their daily struggles and debates resonated far and wide. In the show, every single character is beautifully crafted and adds to the intrigue of the story and overall narrative. The characters, their dreams and struggles were relatable and even inspiring for many. The love story between Sachin (Kanwar Dhillon) and Sailee (Neha Harsora) was also a breath of fresh air like the overall show. There were no fancy dates or dream sequences, it was a journey of understanding each other and overcoming life’s challenges together – a much needed take on relationships in our current time.
The show also led the charge in something that is quite clear now – the audience wants a good character irrespective of gender. The male protagonist, Sachin is a standout male character on television and formed a bond with the audience over time. This proves that it’s the values and messaging of the character that matter and is what connects them to the audience. Hopefully, more beautifully written and layered male characters can be born now.
In keeping with middle-class stories, was another charming one called Mangal Lakshmi. While the show may have loosely taken inspiration of infidelity from other shows, the execution is completely different and truly heartfelt. The show stands out for showing the bond of two sisters Mangal and Lakshmi, who are each other’s’ strength and empower each other at every step. It was refreshing to see two women empower each other on screen, compared to seeing two women or two sisters battling it out over the male protagonist each time. The show may also be the first to carefully intertwine the stories of two different households, that being Mangal’s and Lakshmi’s. The story was simple and the characters are beautifully written and fresh for the audience.
Expanding on the idea of mirroring society were the launch of social dramas like Krishna Mohini, Megha Barsenge and Durga – Atoot Prem Kahani which offered fresh and modern day concepts to viewers.
Away from the fiction dramas, viewers showed a deep interest in their history and culture as demonstrated by the success of Shrimad Ramayan and Shiv Shakti – Tap Tyaag Tandav. Both shows are helmed by Swastik Productions, and they certainly know how to put across these important parts of history and culture to a modern audience. While viewers’ interest in the genre gained momentum, a spin-off of Shiv Shakti was born in the form of Lakshmi Narayan – Sukh Samarthya Santulan which saw the same cast of Shiv Shakti but with a focus on Lakshmi and Narayan’s story and avatars. Swastik Productions has become a standout force on television for the year as they lead in every aspect. From the fine performances of its cast, the visual presentation, to the powerful dialogues, Swastik is the clear number one in the genre.
As the world becomes more complex, it is reassuring to see viewers connect with these shows and draw inspiration from them, while also making them part of their spiritual journeys.
In terms of reality shows, one thing was made clear and that is that viewers crave new formats more than new seasons of current ones. The success of Laughter Chefs – Unlimited Entertainment was unprecedented and showed how much a fresh format, filled with light-hearted moments, and a lovely cast actually impacted the audience. The comedy-culinary reality show became therapy and comfort for many viewers, leading to it becoming a consistent top 10 show every week.
While 2024 was filled with its ups and downs on television, it was a year full of lessons. Viewers became clearer of what they really want, and channels began to take notes. While it may not be all sunny and bright right now, there is change happening, and everyone is hopeful that storytelling will continue to evolve and resonate with viewers far and wide.
Thank You for being part of Urban Asian’s television journey for 2024. Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a prosperous and beautiful New Year!
Neolin
(Writer & Editor, Television – Urban Asian)
