From Nazar to Qayamat Ki Raat: The supernatural casts its spell on Indian Television

A newly-married couple goes to a temple to seek blessings, but instead encounters a gross-looking creature who instantly lusts after the bride. A 200-year-old tantrik with a human body and the head of an animal not only fights the husband, but also destroys everyone, who comes in his way with his evil powers. It is aptly called Qayamat Ki Raat. Elsewhere, a daayan is using her wiles to draw the life out of her victims and casting her evil eye in Nazar. In Laal Ishq, couples find their passionate love stories getting a paranormal twist. Not to forget the icchadari naagins, who are slithering around the love of their lives and throwing venom at their dushmans in Naagin 3.

Supernatural shows are not new, but they are definitely the flavour of the season. Besides the ones mentioned, there will be four more paranormal dramas — Manmohini, a love story steeped in occult craft, Tantra, dealing with an esoteric ritual of destroying or achieving something, Daayan, delving into witchcraft and Vish Ya Amrit: Sitara, tracing the life of a vishkanya — to up the eerie quotient on the small screen by the end of this year.

IT’S ALL ABOUT DIFFERENTIATED CONTENT

According to Karishma Tanna, who stars in Naagin 3 and Qayamat Ki Raat, the audience enjoys watching preternatural shows. She states, “I am not saying that the regular soaps are jaded or done to death, but people are now experimenting and liking the idea of supernatural, something that’s not real like tantrik, bhoot and naagin, etc. It appeals to the younger generation and families because there is drama and entertainment.”

Producer JD Majethia, who had made Shree, a love story with a paranormal twist, couldn’t agree more. He explains, “This is a genre that’s here to stay. Baaki saare stories are over. Earlier, there were family soaps with supernatural elements, but now people are going all out with paranormal and horror shows. They are the best way to lure youngsters and kids and get the youth audience back. In fact, we are also planning a couple of shows like this now.”

Having produced shows such as Beyhadh and Ek Deewaana Tha, Prateek Sharma is now coming up with Manmohini. He believes people are looking for differentiated content and right now, thriller and horror are in demand. “That’s why every General Entertainment Channel (GEC) has one or two shows in the genre. There is a 100 per cent surge in demand for such shows and broadcasters are trying to supply them,” he elaborates.

(Clockwise) Debina Bonnerjee in a still from Laal Ishq; Adaa Khan in Vish Ya Amrit: Sitara; and Reyhna Pandit in Manmohini

ACTORS ARE LOVING IT

After playing a snake woman in the first two seasons of Naagin, Adaa Khan will soon be seen in Sitara. The actress finds it exciting to do mystical shows because they give her scope to do a lot of things. “In the daily soaps, you usually play a sober girl, but in supernatural serials, there are action sequences where you shoot with a harness in a jungle. There is an element of fun. One also gets to experiment with different looks,” she enthuses. For Karishma Tanna, the challenge is in convincing viewers that something supernatural is real. “Compared to a regular soap, the physical exertion while shooting for supernatural serials is a lot more. They are loud and dramatic. Every day I wear a harness, stand in front of a storm fan and run in the jungles wearing a sari and chappals with blood on my face and body. At the end of the day, I’m mentally and physically exhausted. But at the same time, I enjoy it because I’m getting an opportunity to do a different genre,” she says.

Reyhna Pandit, who will be seen as a witch in Manmohini, finds it interesting because she doesn’t have to behave like a human on the show. “I’m preparing mentally so that people connect and sympathise with the character of the witch, which is challenging,” she says.

NOTHING REGRESSIVE?

While these serials are high on drama, they are also accused of promoting regressive content with chudails, tantriks and kaala jaadu thrown in good measure. But Prateek disagrees. “The viewers have become smart, even in the heartland. They know it’s for entertainment purpose and not to be taken seriously. In the supernatural genre, if you don’t have a clairvoyant or a tantrik, you are not doing justice to it,” he states.

Whether you agree or not, these shows are garnering good ratings. Naagin 3 continues to be one of the shows driving the channel. As Vivek Dahiya, who has done Kawach and Qayamat Ki Raat, says, there’s a section of the audience that loves the adrenaline rush and sitting on the edge of their seat waiting for what will happen next. “People want something that hooks them and these genres really have the ability to grab the viewers’ attention,” he sums up.

Looks like here the devil is truly getting its due!