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The highs and lows of the small screen in 2017

Serials going off air within a few months of their launch to prominent personalities landing into controversies to reality shows holding sway over fiction and love stories making a comeback, it was an eventful year for the small-screen

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(Clockwise from top left) Ishq Mein Marr Jawaa, KBC 9, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Li’l Champs, Prem Ya Paheli — Chandrakanta, Dil Boley Oberoi and Aarambh
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In 2017, television saw a lot of action both on and off screen. From serials going off air within a few months of their launch to prominent personalities landing into controversies to reality shows holding sway over fiction and love stories making a comeback, it was an eventful year for the small-screen. Here’s how the year went by..

Romance was back

If last year was dominated by Naagins and Shanis, this year romance was in the air, albeit with a difference. Love stories with a twist were the order of the day. Passionate hate turned into love, dark side of romance, matlabi pyaar, obsession, vengeful love — all kinds of angles were brought into play with shows like Beyhadh, Haasil, Kuch Rang Pyaar Ke Aise Bhi, Ishqbaaz, Agnifera, Ghulam, etc. And what worked big time for these shows was the crackling chemistry between the lead couples —  Shivaay-Anika (Ishqbaaz) Deep-Aarohi (Ishq Mein Marr Jawaa), Vyom-Sharanya (Ek Deewana Tha), Omkara-Gauri (Dil Boley Oberoi) and Karan-Preeta (Kundali Bhagya) to name a few.      

Reality ruled

Fiction shows had to contend with tough competition from reality shows — Amitabh Bachchan’s game show KBC, Salman Khan hosted Bigg Boss 11, Khatron Ke Khiladi 8 anchored by Rohit Shetty and all the song-and-dance shows rated very high on the charts after a dismal performance last year. Bachchan proved that rishtey mein toh woh aaj bhi sabke baap hai when he turned the fortunes of Sony with his TV comeback after three years. The channel that was beleaguered by the falling TRPs of Kapil Sharma’s show and lagging far behind in the race catapulted to the top position when KBC 9 was on air.   

Kids were the stars

Despite the raging debate about whether kids should be participating in reality shows or not, those starring kids were on top-of-the-charts. Be it Voice India Kids 2, Super Dancer 2 or Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Li’l Champs the shows have done exceptionally well as the little ones have been showcasing amazing talent. In fact, for the first time Sa Re Ga Ma Pa... had an extended season of nine months because of its popularity. One of the kids, Vaishnavi Prajapati from Super Dancer 2 has landed herself an offer from rapper Badshah to star in his next music video! Himesh Reshammiya has signed the five-year-old kid Jayesh Kumar from Sa Re Ga Ma Pa for a special song. Need we say more?

Fantasy dramas on the wane

Following the success of Naagin, several makers made fantasy dramas this year, so much so that there were two Chandrakantas showing on rival channels and neither did well. Though Ekta Kapoor is readying to return with the third season of Naagin, shows with supernatural elements seem to be on their way out unless they come up with some potent miracle!

Spin-offs

Taking a leaf out of Hollywood shows Big Bang Theory and Friends, which had a spin-off in Young Sheldon and Joey respectively,  Ishqbaaz gave birth to Dil Boley Oberoi, and Kundali Bhagya emerged from Kumkum Bhagya. However, later DBO has merged with Ishqbaaz  whereas Kumkum Bhagya and Kundali Bhagya are both doing well.  

Period dramas reached saturation

Looks like viewers have had enough of period dramas as none of the lavishly-mounted serials this year managed to capture eyeballs. 

Aarambh, the much- hyped serial written by Baahubali writer KV Vijayendra Prasad, which had its female lead called Devsena after Anushka Shetty’s character in the period film went with a whimper. It was taken off air within three months of its launch. The ambitious historical Porus that is touted as the most expensive serial on TV is struggling with a TRP of one. These warriors need to take a break for a while as fatigue has set in!   

FIVE SHOCKING CONTROVERSIES

  • Kapil Sharma’s mid-air fight with Sunil Grover was the beginning of Kapil’s downfall on TV. His popular comedy show got affected when Sunil and Ali Asgar walked out. To add to it, Kapil randomly cancelled shoots with Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn and Arjun Kapoor, citing health reasons. Finally, his show was taken off air though he is promising to come back next year with renewed vigour and new format. Let’s wait and watch.
     
  • Pehredaar Piya Ki created a war on social media for its twisted story line of a 18-year-old girl marrying a 10-year-old boy, which got heavily trolled. Eventually, the Information & Broadcasting Ministry stepped in and ordered the show to be taken off air.
     
  • Akshay Kumar found himself in the midst of controversy for his comment on Mallika Dua in The Great Indian Laughter Challenge. She and her father Vinod Dua took to social media to vent their feelings against his remarks.
     
  • Hina Khan who is lodged inside the Bigg Boss house rubbed a lot of people the wrong way in and out of the house with her scathing comments. She single-handedly started a war of words between actors outside the house who are divided on their support for her!
     
  • Piyush Sahdev, who was last seen in Beyhadh, landed behind bars on alleged charges of rape.
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