How open are Indian viewers to sequels in Television serials, a very common practice internationally. Most of us have grown up watching ‘Friends’ and many other English Shows. Are Indian viewers open to watching sequels when it comes to their own content? Be it mythology, horror or Saas Bahu serials?
In the Indian scenario only Reality shows has seasons and all of them have garnered eyeballs, be it ‘Big Boss’ or many of the Singing and Dancing shows across channels. On the fiction side some have attempted sequels, shows like, “Mahi Way” and “Kitni Mohabbat Hai”, it was not received favourably by the audience though both the shows in the first season were a big hit.
Content in India is vast, audiences are treated with variety. Every genre be it Mythology, Horror, Fantasy, Comedy or the regular Saas – Bahu drama. But Naagin is the first Fantasy – Fiction which was appreciated by both the urban as well as the rural audience. There have been spin offs and the original Naagin has been dubbed in other regional languages.
Colors TV and Ekta Kapoor launched Naagin, a story of an Icchadari Naagin, a mystifying, eternal and all – powerful, a very popular story across India as a weekend show. The Naagin story is a Fantasy – Fiction, it had many interesting twists and turns which kept the audiences entertained and they wanted more. Also the beauty of this show is, every season there is a completely new storyline and star cast which adds to the excitement. As Colors is one of the leading Hindi GEC both in both the urban and rural markets, has been an added advantage for the show.
The show was launched on November 2015 and a total of 62 episodes were aired. The serial was a runaway hit and was the highest rated show on Indian Television. The show broke the trend.
With the success of the show, a sequel was planned and a total of 75 episodes were aired, a huge hit again. This propelled them to go ahead with the sequel, Season 3 & 4. Season 3 & 4 did not live up to the expectations of the viewers, but Colors and Ekta decided to go ahead with Season 5. This season sees fresh writers and more emphasis on VFX.
On the launch Nina Elavia Jaipuria, Head, Hindi Mass Entertainment and Kids TV network Viacom18, said, “At COLORS, we are proud to keep the ball of entertainment rolling and are extremely delighted to be back in full force. On the heels of our latest offerings, Ishq Mein Marjaawan and Khatron Ke Khiladi Made in India, we are excited to launch a brand new season of our most popular and television’s biggest fantasy fiction franchise, Naagin. The aim is to enhance the magical portrayal of Indian folklore and take forward the legacy of extraordinary entertainment with the fifth edition of the show.”
Now Naagin 5 is back with a special purpose and set to recreate history. In this season the Sarvasshresth Adi naagin is back to avenge her enemies. Several years ago, in Satyug, began the tale of the predecessor of the Naagin clan, Sarvashrestha Adi Naagin. She is fiercely in love with Naag Hriday but even before their love story could reach its happy ending, destiny rips them apart. At the same time, Cheel Aakesh obsessively falls for her, but his love remains unrequited and thus begins the tale of love and hatred. While Naagin’s love remains unfulfilled, she swears revenge as her dying wish. In Kalyug, she is reincarnated and this time is determined to fulfill her journey and also avenge the past. The series will be fueled by hatred, revenge and unrequited love. As the story progresses, she will conclude her epic battle that began centuries ago in Satyug and will fight to fulfill her journey of love.
The show garnered huge TRP’s, though it was a weekend show, where every other GEC was airing Reality shows. Season 1 & 2 saw Chutki as the main sponsor. Naagin 3 saw ‘Dabur Red Paste’ come in as sponsor and season 4, Odonil Zipper and Boroplus and Season 5 is sponsored by Dabur Amla Hair Oil.
Medianews4u spoke to a few people associated with the television industry.
Sukesh Motwani, Creative Director, BodhiTree Multimedia, says “It would not be fair to say that sequels don’t work. We have seen a international shows run into many seasons with considerable time gap. Entertaining franchises/brands and characters belonging to a certain mythology or legacy or any exotic interesting world, will always work. When a new tale is retold as a sequel around familiar characters in a renewed engaging fashion.”
Ricky Sandhu, Producer / Director, Shooting Star Productions, says “The fact that most sequels fail is because at the outset the writers and creators don’t have a long term vision for the series. Its only now with the popularity of OTT platforms that all players have gotten on to the “Season” bandwagon.
I feel it’s still a not a season game till the first one is a proven hit. But what this has done is got writers and creators stretch their mental muscles to come up with stories that have a wider bandwidth and characters that have more depth. We still have a long way to go to catch up with the quality of writing internationally though”.
The story has lots of twists and turns, will she be united with her love. Only time will tell. Also how much will be the audience response to Naagin 5 we will know in a week’s time.
