By Prerna Bhandari
‘Shring bhring sarvaling, bhoot bhavishya vartmaan badling’, does this magic spell a.k.a jaadu mantra ring childhood memories in your head? If it does, there is some good news for you!
The 2004 famous teenage TV soap ‘Shararat’ is soon going to be back with a new Season.
The famous Indian fantasy sitcom became a classic cult during 2000s. The show used various themes such as family drama, fantasy, super naturals and college life thus ensuring that ‘thoda jaadu, thodi nazaakat’ was aspired by all and not just the kids.
Be it Jiya’s lovey-dovey fights with her boyfriend Dhruv or Pam’s fan following, Shanti aunty’s extra frequent trips to their house or nani’s daily dose of sarcasm for her damaad, the comic timing of the serial was spot on.
I am myself a huge-huge fan of Shararat. But when news of its comeback spread, it wasn’t a very ecstatic moment for a childhood fan.
The selfie of the cast of Shararat definitely brought a smile to my face. But the possibility of sitting back on a couch to watch a half an hour daily soap remains highly uncertain today!
Here are a list of reasons as to why I feel Shararat will not work in today’s time:
1. Simplicity at its best, but wait isn’t complexity the new norm these days?
In our childhood days, we used to love the innocence of characters such as Jiya and Meeta and cherish their friendships like ours. Radha’s concerns about her daughter were as genuine as my mother’s and Pam’s next mean move was as predictable as Jiya’s love for Dhruv.
But the audience of today wants breath taking climaxes and thrillers in every new episode. They are not ready to spend the 30 minutes realising that the only progress was the entry of Pam’s new chamchi in the serial.
2. We talk about live in relationships and transgender rights, we hell don’t want to learn from a drooling romantic story.
For a generation like ours, Jiya’s and Dhruv’s romance was goals!!! The old school way was the most charming way. But if one uses their relationship as a teacher’s guide today, he/she will definitely end up being single all their college life.
3. In the age of nuclear families, how is one even expected to understand the intricacies of relationships like ‘saasu ma’ and ‘daamaad’.
For a generation that spends their breakfast, lunch and dinner with the phone, expecting them to relate to a typical family drama and laugh at the neighbour’s beg borrow steal tantrums seems to ask for too much.
The only place where you can find children jellying up with their extended families is either on a face book comment or an insta tag! Rarely will they be asked go to the next door aunty asking for a cup of milk.
4. Today’s world is a world of voices. Voice against wrong or voice against glorifying stereotypes. Idealist TV serials such as Shararat might just invite an opposing voice.
Simple girls are the best prospective wives. Short hair is an indication of bitchiness. Popular girls are always accompanied by side kicks. While people took pride in reinforcing these stereotypes a few years back, you mention it today and you might end up getting a threat call from a liberal.
Shararat was a daily soap ahead of its times. It encapsulated a fantasy world within the boundaries of a sweet family life. It got famous for all the reasons that have been flooded and found in abundance in today’s entertainment forum.
However, the children who used to rush home after school to watch the family drama are the teenagers scrolling through memes and GIFs on facebook today. The target audience for which Shararat was telecasted have surpassed that age.
And fortunately or unfortunately, the new generation is overloaded with so much that simplistic stories would no longer take hold of their attention.
So yeah, despite being a fan myself I really can’t deny the fact that Season 2 of Shararat is going to be a bad idea! What do you think?
Let us know in the comments below!
Picture Credits: Google Images
You’d also like to read: Why Are Bollywood Stars Ashamed Of Indian Television?
