Waqt

Press meet of TV serial 'WAQT' Mumbai, May 6, 2008: Waqt Batayega Kaun Apna Kaun Paraya is a touching story of "Rudra" an adopted girl who enjoys the love and affection of her father Biswajeet, who hails from one of the biggest Zamidaar families in Kolkata. However, the other family members have always considered her 'paraya' an outsider. She yearns for mother's love but her foster mother Yashomati does not show any affection towards her. The story comes to full circle with Yashomati realizing her worth after she gets deceived by her own sons and accepting Rudra as her daughter, a daughter Yashomati has longed for. This convincing, soul stirring saga is being launched on the Indian television starting April 14th, 2008, every Monday to Thursday, 10:30 p.m. only on Sony Entertainment Television. Commenting on the new show, Sanjay Upadhyay, Creative Director & Head of Fiction, Sony Entertainment Television, said "Waqt Batayega is an effort to bring realistic stories to the viewer. The core of this story is very strong and very much relevant in today's time when people are always struggling to judge who is their own and who's not. The story is a mirror to the bitter reality which still exists in our society." "My time is yet to come "goes the saying. The show also explores the popular Indian belief that time is omnipotent. It is the wisest counselor and has the power to change life in an instant. In a house that is awaiting the arrival of a girl child, arrives Rudra but all, even the mother who longed for a daughter, treats her as "paraya". Rudra who is treated as an outsider all her life by the family who adopt her ultimately she becomes the savior of the family. "The subject of Waqt Batayega is very sensitive and we are glad that Sony Entertainment Television has liked the concept and we hope it touches the viewers' hearts too. It is a very different story, in a society where male child rules, here is a family who is longing for a girl child. The show attempts to explore & understand the importance of a girl child in a family & society at large," said Creative Eye's Dheeraj Kumar, Producer of the show. To support the strong storyline the serial has equally strong star cast backing it up. With names like Mukesh Khanna, Kishori Shahane Viz, Nishigandha Wad, Gufi Paintal, Nayan Bhatt, Eva Grover, Payal Sarkaar in stellar roles the audience will surely enjoy watching & relating to the show.

Wagle Ki Duniya

Remember Wagle Ki Duniya, Bharat Ek Khoj, Hasratein and other such fascinating television serials. All these were based on literary works and, after a long gap, Indian television is again witnessing serials based on stories by noted Hindi as well as regional writers.

Some of the shows currently being shown are screen adaptation of books or short stories. They include Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah and Lapataganj - both on SAB TV. Zee TV's Keshav Pandit is inspired by Ved Prakash Sharma's novel Vijay Aur Keshav Pandit.

"Books offer a wide variety of fresh and never seen before concepts for television," says Anooj Kapoor, executive vice president and business head, SAB TV.

"We have always believed in bringing fresh stories to the small screen - whether through original ideas or literary material. But some books have an edge which works well with the audience. We are always on the lookout for concepts that are refreshing and fit into our agenda of pure family entertainment," Kapoor told IANS.

Among all the entertainment channels, SAB TV is hosting the maximum shows based on literary works. Their upcoming comedy Papad Pol - Shahabuddin Rathod Ki Rangeen Duniya is based on stories by reputed Gujarati humorist and stand-up comedian Shahabuddin Rathod.

Taarak Mehta Ka... is based on Gujarati journalist Taarak Mehta's popular column Duniya Ne Undha Chasma and Lapataganj is a take-off on the writings of renowned Hindi satirist Sharad Joshi. The two shows have boosted SAB's TRPs like never before.

It is mostly producers or channel officials who approach writers to convert their work into a TV show. Either they buy the rights of the book or engage the author to script the work to avoid straying from the theme.

Ved Prakash Sharma is scripting Keshav Pandit himself after being approached by producer Ekta Kapoor.

"I stay in Meerut. But Ektaji called me and told me she wants to make a show on my novel Vijay Aur Keshav Pandit. She bought the rights of the book and asked me to script the show. I think it's a very healthy practice that novels are being converted into shows as writers get a wider platform and more readership," Sharma told IANS on phone from Mumbai.

Similarly, Gujarat-based Shahabuddin Rathod was approached by Vipul Shah, co-founder of production house Optimystix.

"Vipul is from my district and he is aware of my work. When he told me he wants to present my stories in Hindi, I was very happy. I knew this will help my work in reaching out to more people rather than just Gujaratis," said Rathod.

Writers maintain the channels are taking care to stick to their original stories.

"They always consult me regarding the set up and portrayal of characters. They feel since I have written the story, I will be able to add authenticity to it," added Rathod.

In the past too, many directors and producers took inspiration from books for popular TV shows.

Govind Nihalani's Tamas in 1987 was based on an eponymous book by Sahitya Akademi winner Bhishma Sahni and acclaimed filmmaker Shyam Benegal's Katha Sagar depicted short stories by renowned writers like Rabindranath Tagore, Leo Tolstoy and Anton Chekov among others.

Benegal's 53-episode series Bharat Ek Khoj was also based on Jawaharlal Nehru's book Discovery Of India.

Actress-turned-producer Manju Singh, known for playing Amol Palekar's sister in Golmaal, also brought short stories to TV with Ek Kahani.

Malgudi Days, one of the most popular shows on Doordarshan, was based on the works of R.K. Narayan. It was first made in 1986, and re-telecast on other channels subsequently. The show was revived in 2004 by a new director.

In the 1980s, literary works were dominating Indian television with shows like Sujata Mehta and Farooq Shaikh-starred Shrikant, based on Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyaya's novel Shrikanto; Satyajit Ray's detective series Feluda; Mr.Yogi based on Gujarati novel Kimball Ravenswood; and Wagle Ki Duniya" based on R.K Laxman's popular cartoon character, The Common Man.

In the 1990s and later, the trend started diminishing from small screen. A few literature-based works like Hasratein and Resham Dunk were aired. While Hasratein went on to be an extremely popular show, Resham Dunk was taken off air soon.



Wagle Ki Duniya - T V Series