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Why Indian audience rejects sequels to popular Hindi television serials

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DailyBiteMar 25, 2018 | 19:02

Why Indian audience rejects sequels to popular Hindi television serials

Comparison is inevitable as the makers are insisting to bring back the same magic.

The reprised versions of Hindi sitcoms have so far failed to extract the same applause their original versions managed to garner decades ago. The insipid response to Hum Paanch Phir Se, which made a blink-and-miss appearance in 2017, and the negative reviews to Sarabhai vs Sarabhai Take 2 proved that remakes of ’90s popular television serials are “jinxed”. But that is not deterring the makers from experimenting. The "brands" are believed to at least create interest among the audience at a time when there is an acute dearth of good content on television. The excitement over Khichdi teaser, which was released on March 24, proves the point. Soon, there will be Shrimaan Shrimati Phir Se.

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While Khichdi will face its litmus test on April 14, as it begins its journey with more or less the same cast, here are the reasons why most remakes have flopped in their attempts to cash in on nostalgia.

The antics are not working with new audience

To recreate the same magic among the audience, the characters are allowed to retain their antics. However, it is not working with the new audience, who watch them for the first time; and the older audience, who find the antics slapstick and forced.

While social media is happy seeing the old characters after a gap of 12 years in a short clip, it is doubtful the hour-long episodes will see the same reactions. 

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Khichdi (2002-2005)

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New Khichdi will return to the television on April 14

TRP competition

Khichdi debuted on Star Plus in 2002, and was followed by Instant Khichdi, which started in 2005 and discontinued in 2006. The first successful run of Hum Paanch was between 1995 and 1999, while the second season stayed for a year — 2005-2006. The third season of Hum Paanch started in 2017 and wrapped up in 2018, with a promise of a fourth season. The first season of Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai was aired between 2004 and 2006. The second season, with a leap in the time frame, came as a web series only for 10 episodes. These serials became uncontested cult. But within a decade, the television business has changed and the fate of shows is now determined by TRPs.

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Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai (2004-2006)

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Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai Take 2 (2017)

High expectations

Comparing a redux version with the original one is otherwise not justified. But in case of all these serials, comparison becomes inevitable as the makers are insisting to bring back the same magic. Khichdi and Sarabhai kept the cast, and most importantly the writer unchanged, which doubled viewer expectations. Hum Paanch, however, deviated a lot from the original and failed to impress.

Too many options

The audience which enjoyed these serials was unknown to reality television, and stand-up comedy shows. Now, there is no dearth of comedy programmes, both fiction and non-fiction, on television, even if we ignore the fact that digital content has eaten into television audience. Sensing the digital fascination of the new generation, Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai was made digital-exclusive. But it didn’t work. Khichdi, which is from the same production house, will be available on television as well as the digital platform. 

Notwithstanding the high chances of failure, producers are banking on old brands. 

  

Last updated: March 25, 2018 | 19:02
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