From saas-bahu sagas, crime thrillers, occult and reality shows to mythological and historical drama, showmakers have an interesting line-up of new TV shows. The Hindi and English GECs are up for revamp with new programming strategies and premieres of international shows are on the cards. Sangeeta Yadav brings you the lowdown on what’s in store for the viewers in 2016
Numero uno
With the onset of New Year, the channels and showmakers are gearing up to bring a high dose of entertainment by launching fresh content and storyline and reviving the old ones with new seasons. Here is a list of upcoming shows to watch out for—
FINITE SERIES
Hip Hip Hurray season 2
One of the most popular shows of the 90s, which kickstarted the trend of youth based content on TV, is all set to return after 15 years on &TV. Anshuman Malhotra, who played the role of young Shahid Kapoor inHaider, has been roped in to play one of the lead characters. Its season 2 will deal with issues like relationship between parents and children, love, sexuality, peer pressure and more.
Swadhinta
Based on courtroom drama, the show will focus on bureaucracy. It is slated to launch in February and may replace the Hindi adaptation of Warner Bros’ Everybody loves Raymond — Sumit Sambhal lega that airs at 10 pm on Star Plus.
24 season 2
Anil Kapoor’s finite action thriller series24 is back with its second edition on Colors. Jai Singh Rathore will be on a new mission to prevent a probable holocaust. Sikander Kher will make his TV debut with this show and will play a druglord called Haroon Sherchan. Ashish Vidyarthi will return to TV almost after decade to essay the role of a druglord.
Supercops V/s Supervillains
life OK’s action-thriller series is going to launch a sub-series Sune Unsune Rahasya that will showcase a set of stories about widespread urban legends of our country.
Produced by the creators of CID aka BP Singh’s Fireworks Production, the makers have created lavish sets like the wrecked ship or the underwater sets and enthralling visual effects through GFX.
Mission Sapne season 2
Colors’ social-welfare-based show Mission Sapne will feature celebrities from different walks of life as they step into the shoes of the common man for a day and raise funds for them utilising their star power. This season will see celebrities like Vidya Balan, Sonakshi Sinha, Parineeti Chopra, Arjun Kapoor and Sonu Nigam, to name a few.
Woh Teri Bhabhi Hai Pagle
SAB TV will launch a new show Woh Teri Bhabhi Hai Pagle on January18, 2016 at 10:30 pm. It is a romantic comedy show based on a love triangle between Dr Diya Dushyant (physiatrist), Dr Ranbeer (fake heart surgeon) and Nathu Nakabandi (fake patient).
CID Veerta Awards
Sony will bring back CID Veerta Awards after three years, to encourage and honour acts of bravery in society.
MTV Girls On Top
The channel is coming up with one more youth based drama called MTV Girls on Top the show will talk about girls coming from different cities to Mumbai to fulfill their dream and how their life changes with it.
DAIlY SOAP
Meri Sasu Maa
Keeping up with the tradition of saas-bahu saga, small screen will have Meri Sasu Maa by Mumtaz Saba Productions on Zee TV. Grapevine has it that this show will be aired at 7:30 pm and replace Qubool Hai by mid-January.
Silsilla Pyaar Ka
Rashmi Sharma Telefilms’s love story Silsilla Pyaar Ka will be launched on January 4. It may replace Ekta Kapoor’s show Kuch Toh Hai Tere Mere Darmiyaan which airs at 8:30 pm on Star Plus.
Sixers
BIG Synergy will soon launch a new fiction show based on cricket on Star Plus tilted Sixers. The concept of the show will revolve around how a young boy from a small town comes to Mumbai to pursue his dream of becoming a cricketer.
Saubhaghyalakshmi
(previously known as Bhaghyalakshmi)
With new characters, an interesting storyline coupled with some high voltage drama, &TV’s show Bhaghyalakshmi will be renamed Saubhagyalakshmi starting January 4, 2016. Aired every Monday to Friday at 8 pm on &TV, the show will see actors Apoorva Agnihotri and Sheeba Sabir along with Abigail Jain, Sara Khan and Neelam Sylvia.
REAlITY CHECK
Khatron Ke Khiladi
The season 7 of Khatron Ke Khiladi is expected to hit the screens after Bigg Boss 9 on Colors comes to an end. The show will now see Arjun Kapoor as the host. The show is set in the backdrop of Buenos Aires.
Roadies X4
One of the longest running reality show which has caught the imagination of youth, MTV Roadies is back with its 13th season.
India’s Got Talent
The show will be back with its seventh season on Colors. Grapevine has it that comedian Bharti Singh will be the host of the show and the judges may remain the same — Kirron Kher, Karan Johar and Malaika Arora Khan.
SaReGaMaPa
Auditions for SaReGaMaPa will start from January 8 across various cities though when the show will go on air is still under wraps.
High Point
CHANNEl TAKE
Revamp CID
CID is one of the most important franchises of Sony Entertainment Television. The reason it has been successful for over 18 years is because it has changed itself with times, yet remained consistent in its appeal and storytelling. In 2016, CID will be entering in its 19th year and we will see a new avatar which will delight its existing set of viewers and attract newer set of viewers. We’ll takeCID into newer heights in 2016
— Danish Khan, EVP and Business Head, Sony Entertainment Television
Unique finite shows
The main focus for 2016 is to further build our distinctive brand identity, to showcase the best stories from across the world and feature the immense talent in India by bringing content that is tailor made for the evolved Indian viewer. One will get to see unique stories, strong narratives, real emotions and finite series
— Priyanka Datta, Cluster Head Zindagi and Zee Anmol
Bring SABTV to No 1
There are a couple of shows in the pipeline, which I can reveal once all concepts are locked. We’ve just launched a new show – Sahib, Biwi Aur Boss. Immediate next one is Woh Teri Bhabhi Hai Pagle slated to go on-air in mid-January. The first endeavour for us in 2016 is to bring SAB back to the ratings that it enjoyed during TAM and continue with the strategy of differentiation through innovation, be it in programming, marketing and PR or any aspect that is relevant to the channel
—Anooj Kapoor, Senior EVP, SAB TV
WISHlIST
Next, a horror show
I’m hoping to see some quality content and new genres and that the audiences will move ahead from watching typical saas-bahu sagas andasura and daayans to progressive and thought-provoking shows. It’s for the audience to decide which show will become a hit and does its storyline actually create value and makes sense. I hope they appreciate good work and make a smart choice of what to watch and what not. I wish that the broadcasters put up a question — ‘Are we moving forward on TVIJ’ With previous shows like Buniyaad, Hassratein, Astitva and many others that brought a revolutionary change on TV in the past, can we create something that is not just for entertainment purpose but can also take the entertainment industry by stormIJ I’m planning to experiment with horror genre which is going to be my next show in the offering
— Rajan Shahi, producer of Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai
Finite, filmi style
Due to the constant surprises being thrown up of late in TRP trends, I fear that we will be seeing a lot of gimmicks on TV. For example the latest obsession with daayans and bhoots, so it's possible that we are going to see more such desperate attempts at getting TRPs. The good part is the fact that many channels are going to plan finite series to try and address the boredom factor of viewers rather than gimmicks. I really hope that these shows work as it’s a much healthier way to compete. I really hope to see more realistic and relatable shows on TV, like the ones that Zindagi is showing with their Indian programmes. I’m also doing a finite series and it feels like a film. So along with hoping that Balika Vadhu reinvents itself and goes strong in 2016, I’m hoping to do more of these!
—Gajra Kottary, TV critic and scriptwriter of Balika Vadhu
lots stored in Mythology
In 2016, although the regular social soaps have been faring well, you'll see them continuing with their glorious journey, yet there would be experimental tracks. Be itSindbad or mythologicals, there are newer Indian stories to be told that are waiting to see the light of the day. You will see more finite shows and seasons this year. Content has been ever-evolving, reinventing itself. The things of the past have been represented with a more contemporary touch for an audience that has also grown. No sooner did you think that supernatural would be passé with the end of Anamika, etc, there comes Naagin, Adhuri Kahani Hamaari, a naagin track on Sasural Simar Ka
— Arif Shamsi, director, Vicky Aur Vetaal