Pandemic's dark shadow over TV shows

The pandemic has taken a toll on everything, and television shows are also not spared. Be it shows like 'Durga' which went off-air in three months or 'Shaadi Mubarak' which ended in just nine months.

Due to one or other factors, these daily soaps are wrapped up within months or so and few have to shift their shooting locations. Covid-19 and lockdown have posed several challenges for broadcasters, television producers, and actors in terms of financial crunch and number of restrictions.

From shifting of shooting locations to coming back, there are still a number of protocols, sanitisation work, and financial burdens that are being faced by the makers and actors of these daily soaps.

For instance 'Gupta Brothers' on Star Bharat was a lockdown-phased show. It started on October 5, 2020, and its final telecast was on January 26, 2021. Unfortunately like most of the shows, it was also pulled off amid the second phase of lockdown despite having all the major twists and turns around the show.

Sonal Vengurlekar who is one of the lead actors from the daily soap expresses her disappointment and says that actors always try to do their best for their projects as it is also the sole means of their bread and butter. But when it goes off air suddenly a lot of things get affected.

Sonal shares about her difficult days: "I did not have enough money to pay my EMIs for my new house and car. I had to actually break all my FDs and mutual funds to sustain this phase. Recently after a long gap, all my dues were cleared."

For the new shows that started during this pandemic period, things were tougher as at one point they needed time to connect with the audience and on the other side there were financial obligations also.

Like 'Pavitra Bhagya' that started on Colors last year ended within seven months.

Kunal Jaisingh who was one of the lead protagonists in the show, says despite the beautiful storyline and wonderful cast the serial went off-air as shootings were stopped due to lockdown.

Another example that falls in the same category is the show 'Durga' which started on December 14, 2020, and ended in three months.

Actress Kajal Pisal who was also among the star cast feels there is constant pressure on the show from budget to TRP ratings and when these factors are not met, things end on a bitter note. (IANS)

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