Indian women's empowerment that beats Game Of Thrones viewership

Its is an Indian show that enjoys a viewership more than Game Of Thrones. Telecast on the national broadcaster Doordarshan dubbed in 14 languages and also broadcast over 216 All India Radio stations, the edutainment show Main Kuch Bhi Kar Sakti Hoon (MKBKSH, first launched on International Women's Day five years ago by Population Foundation of India) which addresses sex selection, early marriage, early and repeated pregnancies, under nutrition of girls, domestic violence, sensitisation of boys among other issues is shooting its third season at Mumbai's Kamalistan studio.

Speaking to DNA on the elaborately put together set (an elaborate home, a village hospital and a village erected on the same spot (where Meena Kumari's swan song Pakeezah was shot) celebrated director Feroz Abbas Khan, who has put the show together admitted to the delay in the third season. “MKBKSH is so popular that DD was showing re-runs of re-runs and yet interest wasn't flagging. Both the MWCD and the Swachch Bharat Mission were very keen on getting the show back on track,” said Khan. “This season has a new empowering new slogan 'Main Desh Ka Chehra Badal Doongee’ and the show’s protagonist Dr Sneha Mathur is tackling fresh issues, including access to hygiene and sanitation.”

He said the success of this show (which has led to queries not only from UN bodies and international NGOs but also broadcast behemoths and content creators worldwide. “They want to know how we're able to marry the authentic with the dramatic to create such compelling content.”) underlines how the people are tired of regressive content on TV. “Current content wants to make women into snakes, insects and worse. The only thing they aren't is human. MKBKSH may've struck a chord because of that,” he smiles.

PFI’s Poonam Muttreja echoed Khan pointing out how the show has successfully redefined status of women in many parts of the country. “Once while shooting in a village women angrily spoke about husbands forcing themselves upon them. And this was in presence of their menfolk. I still get goosebumps remembering that.”

Earlier anchored by actor-filmmaker Farhan Akhtar the show's currently anchored by Meenal Vaishnav who also plays the lead. “Dr Sneha is a character viewers relate to,” explained Vaishnav We have created an IVRS based telephonic way of reaching the show. People call and tell you personal stories some of which have left me in tears when I heard them,” she said. “I feel doubly responsible about the show and my piece to camera in the end.”