Shefali Shah's Heartfelt Plea: Where Did Our TV Stories Go?

You know, there are some voices in the industry that just resonate with an undeniable truth, and Shefali Shah, bless her honesty, is absolutely one of them. She recently didn't mince words about the state of Indian television serials, and frankly, who can blame her? Her frustration, and indeed, a touch of longing for what once was, truly struck a chord.

Shefali wasn't holding back, pointing out that today's television dramas just... well, they never really end, do they? It's a stark contrast to the shows many of us grew up watching, where a story had a clear beginning, a middle, and, most importantly, a definitive end. Now, it feels like they’re just designed to run indefinitely, a perpetual loop of drama without a destination.

And what’s driving this endless cycle? According to Shefali, it all boils down to TRPs, those elusive television rating points. She vividly described the ruthless logic: "TRP nahi chal raha toh iss character ko mar daalo" – if the TRPs aren't working, just kill off a character. Or, introduce some bizarre twist, bring back a long-lost relative, or resurrect someone everyone thought was dead. It's almost like they're building the ship while it's already sailing, constantly changing course based on viewer numbers rather than a coherent narrative.

This relentless chase for ratings, Shefali argues, strips the stories of their integrity and, more importantly, their soul. When plotlines are dictated by fleeting popularity rather than genuine artistic vision, what you get is often convoluted, nonsensical, and ultimately, unsatisfying television. Imagine being an actor, deeply invested in a character, only for their journey to be abruptly cut short or dramatically altered because the numbers dipped. It must be incredibly disheartening.

It makes you yearn for the good old days, doesn't it? Shefali certainly does. She fondly recalled classics like Hum Log, Buniyaad, and Nukkad – shows that were not only groundbreaking but also had a finite run. They told their stories, made their impact, and then concluded, leaving a lasting impression. Even Hum Log, which was famously extended, still knew when to gracefully bow out. Today's serials, however, seem trapped in an unending saga, churning out episode after episode with little regard for logical progression or character development.

Perhaps her candor is a much-needed wake-up call. While the landscape of entertainment has vastly changed with the rise of OTT platforms and films offering more nuanced and finite storytelling – which Shefali herself is thriving in – the traditional TV serial space seems to be stuck in a rut. Maybe it's time for creators to remember that a truly captivating story doesn't need to last forever; it just needs to be well-told.