Foreign soap, desi lather

24, Missing, Revenge – soon you’ll see the desi versions of all these hit international fiction shows. While 24 is being produced by Anil Kapoor, who is also making his Indian TV debut on Colors, sources say that Missing and Revenge’s Indian versions are being readied for Star Plus. Then, there’s Nadaniyaan, the remake of a Pakistani soap by the same name that has just kickstarted on Big Magic. What makes this exciting is that channels, who readily adapt international reality shows but are wary of adapting foreign fiction are now open to experimenting.

As Raj Nayak CEO, Colors says, “India has reached a stage where the discerning viewers are willing to accept and adapt to change and newer genres of content just as they have been open to watching newer and different genres in films. 24 takes a gigantic leap from the existing fiction shows on Indian television, with a unique real-time narration format.” And yet, serials based on videsi shows is not a novel concept. Who can forget Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahi that was based on the Spanish telenovella Yo Soy Betty La Fea,  and made Mona Singh a star overnight? Such was its popularity that another Spanish serial Sweet Fat Valentina on similar lines was remade as Dekho Magar Pyaar Se. It’s another thing that it failed to replicate the success and that effectively put an end to adaptations  — licensed, at least.

Comedy Nights With Kapil has a strong resemblance to the British comedy show The Kumars at No.42. Just like Kapil’s TV family that comprises his wife, dadi, a bua and a motely of characters,  Kumar’s fictional British Indian family, includes him, his wife, a thirty plus son and a grandmother.  Also, like Kumars’, Kapil’s show includes a live interactive audience and jokes are cracked at their expense too! 

Nothing official about it
Though not official,  it did not stop makers from being ‘inspired’ by foreign shows. There was Pyar Ki Yeh Ek Kahani loosely based on the hit Hollywood franchise Twilight Stars, Mahi Way, the desi version of The Devil Wears Prada and Dekha Ek Khwaab inspired by The Princess Diaries. While the vampire serial did well, others were average fare.

License to show
Since last year, channels have been willing to officially adapt shows.  SAB TV got the rights for I Dream of Jeannie and recreated its Hindi version with Jeannie Aur Juju. Disney has three adaptations that include Best of Luck Nikki taken from Good Luck Charlie, Suite Life Of Karan and Kabir based on Suite Life Of Zack And Zody and Shake It Up, a desi version of the show by the same name. Says Indrajit Ray, Executive Director, Content, Media Networks, Disney-UTV, “The stories have a universal appeal and we have taken these stories, added a local texture to them to suit the Indian sensibilities.”  

Videsi to Desi
The advantage of adapting a successful international show is that the makers are assured of a ready script. As Anooj Kapoor, EVP, SAB TV had said, “The show dubbed in Hindi, which aired in the ’90s, was quite popular, so it made sense to adapt the show rather than go in for a home-grown concept.” However, they have to make it relevant to the Indian milieu while retaining the essence of the story. Rajan Shahi, who directed Jassi... and bought the rights for Dhoop Kinarey that was adapted as Kuch Toh Log Kahenge says it’s not an easy road.

After the first year,  Jassi transformed into a regular soap opera while Kuch Toh... exhausted the original story in 10 episodes! “It had a thin plot, and was more than two decades old. I had to add sub-plots, keeping in mind the demands of today’s audiences,” he says. When asked whether there is a possiblity of that happening with Nadaniyaan, producer Dheeraj Kumar said that currently they are sticking to the original storyline. “I am sure they will not have more than 125 episodes and if our show is successful then it will be a challenge to maintain the same kind of humour. In any case, there is a difference as it’s an old show and we have to change with the times,” he says.

Way ahead
All eyes are on Kapoor’s ambitious thriller, the trailer of which has already created a buzz. Sources say that creatives are still being worked on the Revenge adaptation to suit Indian sensibilities. Same is the case with Missing.  How it pans out is something we can only wait and watch.