Indian Screenwriters' Conference: Detailed coverage of the ‘Serial Killer’ session

Indian Screenwriters' Conference delved into some pivotal questions pertaining to the content ecosystem. Does the current TV content reflect our times and society? Are we consciously creating content for an unintelligent audience or has the content made audience slow on the uptake? Has this happened because we have gone from airing shows once a week to seven days, and has quantity taken over quality? Is GEC at the verge of losing its base to digital content?

Armed with more such questions, the fully packed auditorium stood witness to stalwarts of the industry taking up the challenge to decode these mysteries.

The 4th Indian Screenwriters’ conference was held yesterday at St Andrew’s Auditorium, Bandra. The session that we are referring was titled ‘Serial Killer’, as it addressed the shortcomings of better content and continuous falling numbers.

Moderated by Producer Saurabh Tewari, who has shows like Madhubala and Rangrasiya in his credit, he opened the session mentioning that ‘it is conviction and not formulas that work on TV’.  Saurabh, who has also worked in channels (Colors and Imagine), stated that broadcasters need to take risk and should be open to braver concepts.

Mentioning that Star Plus and EPIC TV have been trying this out, he congratulated Ravina Kohli (Head of Content, Epic) on making shows that might not even be on the race of ratings but is serving audience with quality content.

“It has been a struggle. We have received some great feedback but no ratings. When we started we were clear that EPIC would have a specific DNA. I have always believed that I will make shows which I would want to see on TV. Our shows do not reflect the society and we cater to a specific audience and we have not done anything for numbers,” said Ravina.

Apart from Ravina, Gaurav Banerjee- Deputy CEO, Star India, Purnendu Shekhar,- writer Balika Vadhu, Ved Raj -writer Saathiya and Sasural Simar Ka and Zama Habib - secretary Film Writer’s Association & writer of Sasural Genda Phool and Dil Ki Baatein Dil Hi Jaane, were the panellists.

Although the panel seemed disappointed with less participation by the broadcaster, they did indulge in thought provoking discussions. Here is a lay down of the same.

DDish content

Taking charge, Purnendu shared, “Earlier rural content was considered DDish and expected to work only on Doordarshan. But Ashwni Yardi (then Programming Head at Colors) had the faith when Colors was launched and approved Balika Vadhu by simply hearing the word ‘child marriage’. She showed faith in my thoughts and gave me immense encouragement and freedom to work as per my will. I do not understand numbers and I feel if my show affects even one person positively I would be glad.”

The Good Girl Fascination

Ved, who claimed to always hit the bull’s eye on serving dumb content on TV, quipped, “Even if people look down on our shows, I must inform that these shows have pillared the TV industry to a great height today. The audience is demanding and as writers it is our job to serve what they want to see. The only thing that works today is the ‘good girl’ concept. She might have a different personality, look, status and name, but she has to be the ‘good girl’. Also two things this girl wants is ‘pati ka pyaar’ and ‘ parivar ka pyaar’ (family and husband’s love). And this is the reality of the society and everyone instantly connects with the emotions.  Thus I must add that we haven’t formed the notations but we present what is going on in the world. And yes, once the society changes, our TV shows too will change.

The Daily Wage

Accepting that going seven days a week was a mistake; Gaurav took hold of the situation and mentioned that they did not give enough time to the writers to build content and the audience to change their thought process. “Making shows suddenly became like pizza delivery,” he shared.

Gaurav further added, “We have learnt from our mistake and from next month we will not be going seven days. But we must tell the writers that the time you will be provided should be utilised for better work than focussing on more shows (laughs).”

 “The collective ratings of the industry have dropped and that is an alarming thing. The only time when it moved up in the last 10 years was when Uttaran and Balika Vadhu launched in 2008 and when Sasural Genda Phool and Pratigya were launched in 2010. This is a loss for TV as we are not making shows for viewers. Also I feel  the ratings need to get into a more sophisticated level of measurement as every story is unique and needs to be judged differently,” he concluded.

New Markets

Zama too agreed on the fact that newer concepts need to see the light of the day.

"I really feel it is wrong to say that since this trend is working, I will follow it blindly. As writers we need to ideate and bring forward untold stories. We should be capable of opening new markets. Also as a team, we should trust each other's conviction and instinct," he added.

Confessing that he had once made a screenplay of two episodes stretch to four owing to less time in hand, Zama requested writers to be honest to their profession and art.

"These days producers, writers pitch as per to channels' demands and genre. There is no story, it is basic business. And that is a sin," he concluded.

Research

Sharing how once on a research trip, Purnendu met just two people, he asked if such over the surface research really help.

Answering his queries, Gaurav mentioned, "We do not completely go by research but then knowing the pulse of the audience is always fruitful. You do get to know their choice and can cater to them accordingly. Also it is never futile to be able to study the magic that some shows have on people."

The 'Real' Reality

And finally getting back to the subject of whether TV presents the reality of the society, Zama shared, "Not even one character in our show is allowed to talk about politics, inflation, crime. Why are we not talking about the society and the changes that are happening or need to be implemented? Thus, we do get to see a story but are not able to understand the society."

Mentioning about their age old animosity Gaurav got back to him stating, "Fight for your work. Having lived a life of a journalist there is nothing more hurting than be accused of not being able to touch base with the society. We need to break out of the sterile world and Star has been trying the same. We produced Satyamev Jayate and Kaali that showed hard hitting tales in the society. We need to see the conviction and fire in you all to be able to give a heads up. Give us that and we would be able to together break the dam down."

Ved though had a different take on it. "Shows are made for entertainment purpose not as a means to see the reality. If I have to do that, I better look at my neighbours than switch on the TV. We are here not to bring a revolution but evolution."

And thus the panel called it a day but not before stating that one has to be brave and have accountability to take risks. With an audience of 65 crore people, it is only right that we tell them stories that they will embrace and also get entertained.