Trends this year got highly supernatural to get the eyeballs across the soap dish. If not that, there were blockbuster historicals and even bigger comedy shows that came in gently to capture imagination. A rundown by Sunday Pioneer
Snake charmers, historicals & comedy
Naagin: The show jumped to a 4.34 TVR on opening day and soon reached 5TVR, making it the top No 2 show on the chart. Ekta Kapoor went all out to stun viewers with no less than a helicam team which worked for Bahubali being commissioned. The show has roped in The Pixellence Studio, founded by Harsh Vardhan, Dimple and Darshan Dugar, to infuse life into the riveting storyline and creating a make-believe world.
“Naagin is loaded with some amazing VFX. Matching Hollywood quality in India means skillfully combining emotions with technology. I think we’ve been able to create a much bigger impact and have matched the Hollywood vision at least in terms of the look and feel of the show,” Dugar Dugar, co-founder, The Pixellence Studio, tells you.
Chakravartin Ashoka Samrat: The show has been shot in various exotic locales across Jaisalmer, Kerala, Mumbai’s Film City and Karjat. Its magnum opus set has been put up at ND Studios, Karjat by two popular set designers Omung Kumar and Nitin Desai and VFX experts have been roped in to recreate the opulent Mauryan era.
Bhabhiji Ghar Par Hain: This tongue-in-cheek sitcom on &TV has become the talk of the town. Every character has become famous for their one-liners and acting skills. Where Angoori played by Shilpa Shinde, is known for saying her trademark dialogue — ‘sahi pakde hain’, Saanand Verma is famous for his dialogue ‘I like It’. Even the rickshawala, who is presumed to be dumb, makes everyone laugh through his mime acting.
Swaragini: The show, which went on air in March this year, made it to the top 10 shows with TRP around 3.19. Based around the life of two sisters — Swara and Ragini, the story revolves around their relationship with Sanskaar and lakshya. The show had a lot of twists and turns and maximum number of mahasangams.
Other TRP garner shows of previous years that made it to the top list are Tarak Mehta Ka Uoolta Chasma, Yeh Hai Mohabbatein, Meri Ashiqui Tumse He, Kumkum Bhagya, Diya Aur Baati Hum, Saat Nibhana Saathiya, Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai, Balike Vadhu and Comedy Nights with Kapil, which may be going off air next month.
Bold & intense
Aasma Badar and Madhura Naik: MTV’s show The Big F, which will be based on sex stories, showcased a lesbian couple including a lip-lock between actresses Aasma Badar and Madhura Naik. The story revolved around a fashion designer and her muse and how the two fall in love.
Dino Morea and Shibani Dandekar: I Can Do That contestants Dino Morea and Shibani Dandekar's act raised eyebrows when they smooched each other on the show. Everyone including host Farhan Akhtar was taken aback by the move. Apart from Dino, Shibani and their choreographers, nobody else were aware about the lip-lock in the act.
Rajeev Khandelwal and Kritika Kamra: Reporters, which went on air this year, aired a promo which has Rajeev Khandelwal and Kritika Kamra kissing. Though the show was shut down within six months, the lip-lock scene created a lot of attention.
Karan Kundra and Saanvi Talwar: The teaser of Ekta Kapoor's new show Yeh Kahan Aa Gaye Hum features a lip-lock between Saanvi Talwar and male lead Karan Kundra.
The good
Supernatural
From showcasing daayans and naagins in Sasuraal Simar Ka (SSK), Naagin, Adhuri Kahani Hamari & Swaragani, vampire in Qubool Hai to the chudails in Jodha Akbar or unravelling a murder in CID and Aadalat. TV this year was under the spell of supernatural powers that ruled the roost and grabbed a lot of eyeballs. Raising the concerns about the complaints over negative portrayal of women during the prime time, the BCCC had to send advisory to all channels to be cautious with occult programmes and have to be banished from prime time.
Finite shows
The trend of finite shows of 20 plus episodes has taken over Hindi GECs by storm with shows like Naagin, Gulmohar Grand, Ek Tha Chander Ek Thi Sudha, Reporters etc and influencing veteran actions to make a comeback.
literary shows
2015 saw a large number of shows that took us back to the flashback with their story dated around the independence era. Shows like Ek Tha Raja Ek Thi Rani, Stories by Rabindranath Tagore, Ek Tha Chandar Ek Thi Sudha, lajwanti, Dastaan and many more were either literary adaptations or fictional stories set in the golden vintage era.
Break format
International content: Zindagi channel took a leap by showcasing Turkey’s popular show Feriha and also launched first original non-fiction Indian show Shukriya, and fiction Bhaage Re Mann and Aadhe Adhoore.
The Stage: India got its first English singing talent hunt show The Stage which was judged by Vishal Dadlani, Ehsaan Noorani, Monica Dogra and Devraj Sanyal. The winner was 19-year-old Yatharth.
I Can Do That: Adaptation of American reality show, I Can Do That was hosted by Farhan Akthar. Rithvik Dhanjani was declared the winner of the show.
Aaj Ki Raat Hai Zindagi: An adaptation of the British series Tonight’s the Night, the show was hosted by Amitabh Bachchan and it revolved around common people who have accomplished something extraordinary.
Power Couple: The show is an adaptation of popular Israel-based reality show by the same name which was hosted by Malaika Arora Khan and Arbaaz Khan.
India Poochega Sabse Shaana Kaun: The show was an adaptation of Israeli game show Who’s Asking which was hosted by Shah Rukh Khan.
New Channel
COlORS INFINITY: The channel was launched on July 31 offering refreshing line-up of English GECs with back-to-back shows, instant premieres, India's first-ever homegrown English singing talent hunt and a refreshing line-up of English GECs.
&TV: The fresh entrant in the Hindi GEC space &TV was launched on March 2 offering some refreshing content like Agent Raghav, Bhabhi Ji Ghar Par Hai, Bhagyalaxmi, Darr Sabko lagta Hai, Deal Ya No Deal, Gangaa etc.
TV online
Hotstar: The biggest trend was live streaming of TV shows and shows like On Air with AIB much before being launched on TV. The platform brought back popular show Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon as mini web-series. “Netflicks and mobile TV have taken the game. You don’t need to have a TV to watch a show now. The content is as daring and edgy as you could find anywhere else in the world,” actor Kaizaad Kotwal, tells you.
YouTube: YouTube ranked Crime Patrol’s Sting Operation 3 & Splitsvilla’s Broken Promises in the top 10 trending videos.
Wedding bells
Karan Patel & Ankita Bhargava: Actor Karan Patel got married to Ankita Bhargava on May 3 in Mumbai. It was an arranged marriage as their families were introduced to each other through Karan's close friend Aly Goni. Coincidentally, Ankita's father, Abhay Bhargava, plays the role of his father-in-law in reel life as well in Ye Hai Mohabaatein
Drashti Dhami & Neeraj Khemka: Actress Drashti Dhami tied the knot with her long-time beau Neeraj Khemka on February 21.
Rajat Tokas & Shrishti Nayyar TV actor Rajat Tokas aka Akbar of Jodha Akbar, married his girlfriend Shrishti Nayyar on January 30.
Disha Vakani and Mayur: Dayaben aka Disha Vakani of Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah tied the knot November 24 with Mumbai-based chartered accountant Mayur.
Praneet Bhat & Kanchan Sharma: The Bigg Boss season 8 contestant, famous for playing Shakuni mama in Mahabharat, got married to Kanchan Sharma, a stylist on November 4. They met each other during their theatre days.
Vrajesh Hirjee & Rohini Bannerjee: Popular actor Vrajesh Hirjee got hitched to his girlfriend Rohini Bannerjee of Saas Bina Sasural fame on October 17.
Nigaar Khan & Khayyam: Nigaar Khan got married on July 23 with her long-time beau, Khayyam.
The bad
Break-ups
Karan Patel & Kamya Punjabi: The duo looked so much in love during the Celebrity Cricket league and were quite open about their relationship. So, their break-up news was a shock for all their fans. Even more shocking was the speed at which Karan Patel moved on and is ready to tie the knot with another TV actor Ankita Bhargava.
Ssharad Malhotra & Divyanka Tripathi: They had a seven-year-old relationship that had seen all ups and downs and when both of them were doing very good in their career, the couple decided to call it quits. Divyanka aka Ishita Bhalla of Yeh Hai Mohabbatein and Ssharad, who plays lead in Maharana Pratap, ended their relationship. According to the rumours doing the rounds, apparently Ssharad Malhotra was cheating on Divyanka and that lead to their break-up.
loss to the industry
Sudha Shivpuri: The 77-year-old actress, known for playing Baa in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, passed away on May 20 due to a multiple organ failure. She worked in numerous plays. Insaf Ka Tarazu, Sawan Ko Aane Do, Burning Train, Maya Memsaab are a few movies she starred in.
Sanjit Bedi: Heart-throb Sanjit Bedi had shot to fame with the popular medical drama Sanjivani and other popular shows like Kya Hoga Nimmo Ka and Kasautii Zindagi Kay, succumbed to a prolonged illness on June 23.
Mohan Bhandari: Veteran TV actor Mohan Bhandari died after a long battle with brain tumour on September 24. Bhandari is famous for his roles in Khaandaan, Karz, Parampara, Jeevan Mrityu, Pathjhad, Gumraah and Mile Sur Mera Tumhara. He was also seen in the Bollywood blockbuster Mangal Pandey-The Rising.
The ugly
BCCC conplaints
Waqt Ne Kiya Kya Haseen Sitam: A love story based on the novel Bano by Pakistani writer Razia Butt on Zindagi channel received 44 complaints in April for showing anti-Hindu content. The complainants emphasised that ‘in few episodes, the show showcased Indian Muslim league and Jinnah as a hero who were fighting with Congress against discrimination of Muslims living in India. A Hindu named ‘Ram’ is shown doing bad deeds.’ After the discussion with the channel representatives, the Council released the advisory that ‘the show has the potential of causing unrest because the theme seems to be inimical to Indian interests and the series shouldn’t have been shown’.
Channel banned for 5 days: In April, the Government had banned the news channel Al-Jazeera for five days for showing an incorrect map of India and had shown parts of Kashmir in Pakistan and China.
Flop shows
Bigg Boss Nau: The controversial reality show was a big flop and failed to click with the audience. The line-up of contestants and their repetitive fights couldn’t bagged a lot of TRP.
Dil Ki Baatein Dil Hi Jaane: The show that starred big actors like Ram Kapoor, Gurdeep Kohli was abruptly ended in just six months. The plot of the show which is about a widower (Ram Kapoor) and his emotional relationship with daughter (Mahima Makwana) failed to find connect with the viewers and had poor TRP.
Hello Pratibha: The show revolved around the protagonist named Pratibha, a 36-year-old woman based in Jhansi and a mother of two children. Pratibha was filled with hope, ambition and talent of her own, and is now married for 16 years and has devoted her entire life to her husband, kids and in-laws, thereby facing identity crisis. As per the sourced, the show failed to garner ratings.
Servicewali Bahu: The show aimed at highlighting the social stigma of dowry harassment, failed to create a stir as expected by the makers and hence was taking it off air within five months.
Newsmakers
Priyanka Chopra: The actress forayed into international TV with Quantico and plays the role of Alex Parrish, a rookie FBI recruit with a mysterious past.