Demonetisation is a rage on small screen way with some shows even dedicating episodes to it. Others are cashing in by tweaking the storyline to bring in this chirp. Sangeeta Yadav talks to scriptwriters about the topical twist
Be it a sitcom or daily soap, comedy or drama, showmakers are making their characters talk about the most discussed topic in India today — demonetisation.
Inducting real-time topicality into the make-believe world, role players in many shows are being shown dealing with the ban of Rs500 and Rs1,000 notes, sometimes giving out the message that one needs to stay away from the scam of converting black money into white.
“Demonetisation is a very big incident for our country that has affected everyone. We have taken up this issue and showcased different facets of the real life drama in out make-believe world. But we are not giving out our opinions or take sides on it. We are merely reflecting how the society is coming to terms with this change,” Asit Kumar Modi, producer of Taarak Mehta Ka Ulta Chashma, says.
To weave in a current issue in a fictional show and make it look funny is the most difficult and unusual combination. Scripting the episode comes automatically once the scriptwriters think from the perspective of the character who has his own ways to deal with the issue. “Through Bhabhiji Ghar Pe HainIJ and May I Come In Madam, we are trying to give a comic side of this serious situation. For this, we have to think from the perspective of our characters. like how Vibhuti and Tiwari would react when they get to know about demonetisation. We get into the mind of the character and the script unfolds automatically,” Manoj Santoshi, scriptwriter of the two shows tells you.
While Tiwari and Darogaji will be seen tensed about how to convert their black money into white, Vibhuti, who has no money and is unemployed, will be seen cashing in on this opportunity by putting up an offer and taking his cut. “The news about the ban of notes gives Tiwari and Darogaji a tough time. Angoori gets very angry after she comes to know that Tiwari has Rs50 lakh in black money and advises him to deposit it in the bank but he looks for ways to convert it illegally. He calls his relatives and say that “aapne mujhe ek lakh rupee udhaar diye thhe jo mai nahi de paya thha. Aab mai apko interest ke sath return karna chahta hoon. Aap mujhse 10 lakh rupees le lejiye”. After a failed attempt, Tiwari calls his servant Tinnu and says: “humne tumhari 60,000 rupee pagaar nahi di thhi. Yeh lo, ab hum tumhe Rs1,50,000 lakh de rahe hai.” But Tinnu also refuses to take that money,” Santoshi says.
The makers are also giving out a social message to the common man to not get tempted by scams. “Vibhuti’s friend Prem Chaudhary gets to know someone who can help convert the black money into white and asks for a 6 per cent cut. Vibhuti makes the same deal with Tiwari with a 12 per cent cut and Tiwari cut a deals with Darogaji for 24 per cent cut. Both Tiwari and Darogaji give the money to Vibhuti who keeps it at home. Saksena, who is a righteous man, complains about this to the commissioner and a raid takes place. They find the bags but only stuffed with clothes. After the commissioner leaves, both the bhabhijis confess that they had hidden the money to save their respective husbands from going to jail. They then tell them to deposit the money in the bank giving the penalty,” Santoshi tells you.
Some producers are also introducing feel good stories where people are shown supporting demonetisation, staying united and helping relatives and neighbours to tackle shortage of new currency.
“Angoori runs out of food at home and the vegetable vendor refuses to take the old notes. Anita comes to her rescue and invites her for lunch and dinner. Before scripting the episodes, we took a lot of opinion from the people standing in long queues at banks and many of them felt positive about the change despite facing difficulties,” Santoshi adds.
May I come In Madam on life Ok is also running a track where crorepati Sanjana and her father find out ways to disperse the Rs6 crore black money. She puts her employee Sajan to task. Innocent Sajan, who is head over heels in love with Sanjana, agrees to help her but the income tax people get to know about this and hunt him down.
Sab TV’s Taarak Mehta Ka Ulta Chasma’s demonetisation track showcased how housewives were facing trouble. “It’s not necessary that the cash you have at home is black money. We have shown the perspective of housewives who keep money as household savings. Some keep money in their purses. Some keep the money received as gift or donated at temples in their home. How they stand in long queues to deposit it, is shown here. Even Jhethalal, who has earned money through hard work and honesty, gets a payment of Rs50 lakh just before the announcement was made and how he reacts and makes ways to dispose of the money is interesting to watch out for,” Modi says.
In Zee TV’s Zindagi Ki Mahek, Harish (Ajiz Quarshi) who has suitcase full of Rs500 and Rs1,000 notes, is advised by Karuna to distribute the money to beggars. In Chidiya Ghar, after depositing the money in the bank, Ghotak, Kapi and Gomukh are left with lakhs of rupees. From the boss blackmailing the employee for helping him to dispose of the money in exchange of promotions, to giving lakhs of 500 and 1000 rupee notes as gift, all the tricks have been showcased on TV.
In daily soap too, the makers are scripting special two to four minute sequences to show the impact of demonetisation. In Colors’ Devanshi, the little girl gets disappointed when she is unable to buy a pair of shoes due to the new currency rule and the shopkeeper makes her understand that she needs to deposit that money in the bank.
In Thapki...Pyar Ki, the new character in the show Sehban Azim will be seen unaffected by the demonetisation rule as he feels it will not make any difference to him.
Makers opine that happenings like these are easy to weave into sitcoms rather than daily soap. “For a daily soap, it’s difficult to pick these issues and revolve their show around it as the main storyline goes out of track. The scriptwriters need to balance out the two and decide for how long they would like to show that track. It should not look forced but should be a natural infusion into the story. There is limited scope for experimentation. Many daily soap have picked up the demonetisation track but it’s for a shorter time,” Santoshi points out.