Mythological shows have been ruling Indian TV in the lockdown
Ramayan and Mahabharat witnessed
unprecedented popularity when they
were first aired on Doordarshan in the
’80s. The situation was no different when their
reruns were aired during the lockdown.
And,
it’s not just Ramayan andMahabharat.Gauging the audience’s response, over the last two
months many channels have given prominence to mythological shows like Jai Shri Krishna, Vighnaharta Ganesh, Sankatmochan
Mahabali Hanuman, Devon Ke Dev Mahadev
and Radha Krishna. In fact, channels even
stopped airing reruns of some of their family dramas, comedy shows and reality shows
to give these shows slot. So, what is it that
makes the mythological genre the mostwatched in these times?
‘THESE SHOWS HAVE A
COMBINATION OF PURPOSE,
NOSTALGIA AND GREAT NARRATIVE’
According to Manisha Sharma, Chief Content
Officer of a channel,“Mythological shows have
laid the foundation of our television ecosystem
and continue to hold prominence in our daily
lives. The shows provide a wide scope in terms
of the narrative, characters and entertaining
plots that strike a chord with the audience. People find immense value in epics as they provide
comfort and calmness. In these times, when we
are seeking relief and hope, they are proving to
be a perfect reminder of the golden times and
guiding light for how we wish to lead life from
here on.
The combination of purpose, nostalgia and great narrative keeps bringing people
back to watch these shows and take away something meaningful from it every time.”
Marketing head of another channel, Arpit
Macchar, adds, “Mythological content appeals
to viewers very strongly as they connect with
these shows at a personal level. Historically,
mythological shows, and especially Ramayan,
has always had a great appeal. We started a rerun of Ramayan (the version made in 2008) during the lockdown. Within the first week itself,
the slot viewership grew by 45% indicating people’s interest and enthusiasm.”
THESE SHOWS ARE LIKE A CRUTCH
THAT PEOPLE CAN HOLD ONTO:
PSYCHOLOGISTS
Psychologists, too, agree on the calming effect
of these shows. Clinical psychologist Varkha
Chulani says, “People have always depended
on mythology and religion to calm their nerves.
This is a time of unprecedented uncertainty,
and emotional management is sought in different ways. So, you will see people praying
harder than ever. These shows ask you to trust
a higher power. So, there is an element of hope,
and everybody is clinging to the hope that life
will change sooner rather than later. It’s like a
crutch that people can hold on to.”
Mahabharat
VIEWERS DON’T WANT TO WATCH
SHOWS ON KITCHEN POLITICS
Viewers feel that mythological shows give them
hope during these trying times. Reena Thakur,
a 28-year-old banker, says, “Over the past two
months, there has been a change in what we
have been viewing on TV.
My family is hooked
to mythological shows. The special effects may
not be up to date, but that doesn’t matter. Due
to the pandemic, most viewers don’t want to
watch kitchen politics on daily soaps and unnecessary fights on reality shows.”
For some,these shows are a way to help their
children connect with their roots. Sumalini
Salian,a homemaker,said,“Earlier,my 10-yearold son knew only Arjun, Bhishm and Bheem
from Mahabharat.Now,he knows the story Ramayan and Mahabharat. Kids these days are
into video games and cartoons, so the reruns
have helped them understand their roots.”
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