If mega serials with interesting storylines mostly centering around women and a host of reality shows were the highlights in the entertainment sector of television industry last year, there are better deals in store for 2013. Most of the channels are ready with their action plans armed with new ideas and concepts and better technology though in the same old format.
ETV ODIA
Eleven years into business, ETV Odia has made every effort to enthrall viewers with programmes inspired mostly from the inherent rich culture of Odisha with a modern treatment. Having already produced landmark serials like Tulasi, Mausi, Sanskara and Gayatri, the longest running serial on Odia television that concluded recently with 1339 episodes, the channel lived upto the expectations of viewers by coming up with an interesting daily fiction last year as well, ‘Aahuti’.The serial deals with the traumas and tension of modern day family and the constant conflicts arising out of the ever changing social values.
This apart, pulsating shows like Full Bobbal, a unique entertainment show inspiring budding talents from all over the country which was shot in Hyderabad, Amari Swara Season 3, a musical reality show, Dance Dhamaal, celebrity couple dance show where Govinda was the chief guest and Sampoorna, search for a complete naari were also part of the channel’s bouquet of offerings last year.
The other highlight was the beginning of ETV Priya Odia Season 8, an endeavour on the part of the channel to honour the personalities of the State who have made substantial contribution to the State and its people. In terms of reality shows, the channel is the only one in the State which runs a game show for women Srimati Kam Nuhanti which has already completed over 2000 episodes and still going strong on TRP.
For 2013, the channel will screen two more mega serials besides coming up with the second season of Dance Dhamaal, a dance reality show and Amari Swara Season 4.
TARANG
Providing wholesome entertainment with different flavours, Tarang TV had a lot of new offerings for its viewers in 2012. In terms of mega serials, the channel came up with four new concepts in 2012 for primetime view. Kichi Luha Pee Jaye Otha, which is based on the trials and tribulations of a poor girl, who works as a maid in the house of an industrialist, gets brutally raped by his elder son while in love with the younger one. Then came Swabhiman centering around the dilemmas that a woman faces at her in-laws’ family after getting married to the man she loves.
Next in the line was Abujha E Mana based on corporate life and its so-called stigmas where relationships are misunderstood and family values are in constant testing mode. Latest offering from the channel was Rajneeti, a political saga showing the political stigma and power game in a semi-urban political space.
This apart, reality shows like Sadhaba Bahu Season 2, a game show for married women, Dance Challenge Season 2, Voice of Odisha Season 2, (ongoing), Little Star, a dance reality show for kids (ongoing) and Chef-No 1, recently launched were the other major attractions the channel came up with last year.
For 2013, to keep the viewers hooked to their channel, there are plans to launch two new soaps and Sri Jagannath Season 2, a serial based on Lord Jagannath whose first phase was launched in 2011.
MBC
For MBC, one of the star highlights for 2012 was Ta Ra Rum Pum, a dance reality show for kids which concluded recently. The channel also launched its first daily soap, Mati Baikuntha based on caste discrimination last year.
In 2013, the channel plans to take a few steps ahead with some more interesting reality shows in the wings and another mega serial ‘Ahisulakhyani’, a family drama to come up soon. On the reality front, Ta Ra Rum Pum will come back again with the second season while a Quiz League and Antaksharee have also been planned which are expected to entertain the audiences even more in days to come.
SARTHAK
For Sarthak TV, which came into existence two years back, last year was special as the channel came up with its first mega serial ‘To Agana Ra Tulasi Mun’, a social family drama with love story as its backdrop.
Shot in HD camera, the serial is touted to be one of the most expensive made till date.
However, for 2013, Sarthak has much more in store for viewers with as many as four new mega serials and two reality shows in the pipeline. Out of the four, names of two have already been finalised. While ‘Pari’ is based on woman’s fight against injustice, ‘Badhu’ deals with the dilemmas that a woman faces unable to be a mother. This apart, the channel also plans to screen a couple of exclusive Odia blockbuster movies this year.