And so we’ve come to the final issue in our Anniversary specials.
This last, the 5th in our 5 Spice series, highlights television. It also looks at the city itself: its charm, its beloved face via its familiar monuments, some lesser known facets as also the trends it hosts. As we track what drives small screen entertainment, we also pay homage to the megapolis we live in: Mumbai, like DNA, is heavy on the spice quotient, wouldn’t you agree?!
Mistress of Spice
If there is a young woman we could call by that title, ‘Mistress of Spice’, it surely would be television’s czarina, Ekta Kapoor. Youthful, feisty, focused, she spiced up the medium years ago with her penchant for saas-bahu sob stories, all that drama and back-stabbing and women who looked like fashion princesses at home (may we puh-lease go back to comfort wear and old PJ’s now?!). Unapologetic about the ‘regressive’ tag around such shows: “Being in a city like Mumbai, it’s hard for us to accept the reality of small towns and villages; the shows reflect this. Our viewers are not Mumbai, but in the smaller townships across the country. It’s not a geopolitical divide, but psychological,” Ekta came to the office for this penultimate DNA Anniversary issue and told it like it is. Her forthrightness was on view for all to see, and her no-nonsense business sense admirable: “In India, we don’t have any option of season breaks. We are of daily format. Any story will come to an end and to keep the freshness alive, you have to jump” (on age leaps in serials). She had DNA enthralled, with the perspective she gave to the small screen: “In movies, women have to look hot because it’s a ‘man’ medium. In TV, on the other hand, the girl has to be pretty and cute. Men always have to be hot. That is the major funda of casting. A Tulsi will work but we need Ronit. Even daadi has to go ‘Ohhh!’” And then a sense of humour to boot, “I can’t even think of making a show on fashion. I am a fashion casualty and insult to any designer!” Ekta charmed After Hrs in showing her soft and steely side by turn and when dissecting this last issue was done, she also mischievously decided to do a diabolique for us much like the machiavellians in her serials — need we go into our amusement and appreciation?!
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