Serial killers of the TV industry

Why are male leads in our TV shows being killed off routinely Industry insiders say it’s all about keeping audiences hooked

Killing off characters in TV shows whenever the writers seem to hit a narrative dead-end has become commonplace. In the recently-concluded Tere Sheher Mein, the show’s main lead got killed and the female lead moved on with her life. In Badi Devrani and Dream Girl too, the main leads were bumped off. In fact in Qabool Hai, it has almost become monotonous the way characters are killed.

So, why are the makers resorting to this tele genocide, especially in female-oriented shows Director Anil V. Kumar says, “Changes in the show are done in accordance to the producers, director and the writer. Usually if the show is women oriented, the creative team as well as the producers/director would like to en-cash on the sympathetic conditions the female lead goes through. A male lead is killed owing to the prevailing situation and conditions.”

Producer of Tere Sheher Mein, Rajan Sahi, says, “Female centric shows become popular because of their vulnerability. In Tere Shere Mein, we tried to produce a show, which was based on reality. We decided to go against the usual rut and tried taking a risk. The female protagonist easily gets sympathy as the audiences feel for the woman who goes through such difficulties. “In Tere Seher Mein, after the husband dies we tried to showcase how the woman protagonist becomes the bread earner instead of sitting and crying. She rises above that crisis. This indeed became inspirational. Though the show has shut down, we are happy that we tried to take a risk and sustained for quite a while.”

Sahi adds: “Audiences’ prefer drama and also love seeing the protagonist in the best costumes. There’s enough of sister rivalry shows and saas–bahu sagas, so we tried something different.”

Adds director Santram Varma, “In a female-oriented show you need drama. The production house faces many problems while making a TV show for the mass market. And producers also have to think of different kind of storylines. So, making TV shows is quite risky as the serial will not last unless the audiences are liking it. The trend of killing the male protagonist are decisions taken by producers and the makers of the shows to sustain audience interest.”

Actress Nikita Dutta, who quit Dream Girls recently says, “Leaving the show was the best thing I did I have absolutely no regrets. It was a mutual understanding between the makers and me. My character was killed off because after the death of my husband, there was nothing much for me to perform in the show. I think the show, in which the lead now plays a dual character, has taken off very well. And by the end of the day the show has to do well — that’s all that matters. I did not throw any tantrums on the sets and all my co actors and others are now missing me. And about male leads being killed off, all I can say is that the shows need to have something alluring for the audiences and a strong TRP.”