MUMBAI: Tanusri Dasgupta, vice president of Balaji telefilms, has received many accolades for her works and is relishing her career behind the scenes. She loves challenges and is never disconcerted by the problems that life throws at her. Tanusri has just fought Covid-19 like a warrior, and for now, she is back to her drawing board bouncing off ideas, discussing plots for new shows and reading scripts. And if not any of the above, then she is busy pampering her pet, enjoying her tea or being a virtual tourist.
TellyChakkar caught up with Tanusri Dasgupta to discuss the future of the television industry, and how OTT is disrupting technology.
Avant-garde is the one word that defines the shows that you have helmed as a showrunner. Did you set out to change the dynamics of television content?
Ektaa Kapoor's vision of serving the audience the right content is very accurate. She understood the issues around relationships, and I understood how to execute them. From Kkusum to Naagin 5, we have made relatable content. We create stories by understanding the stories of different people around us.
How did this happen?
Academically, I was a poor student and clueless, but somewhere I enjoyed the art of storytelling. As luck had it, I joined Balaji Telefilms as a mere fresher, and my workspace became both my school and schoolyard. It was there that I realized that I had a propensity to handle a large team seamlessly and manage the show, and then one led to the other, and the rest is history. From a journalist to the creative head of Balaji Telefilms and now the vice president, life has come full circle for me.
You are hands-on and detail-oriented, but at a point, you spearhead many shows? Don't you spread yourself too thin?
It's all about the equation you share with your boss and your team. We have rigorous meetings with the writers and different creative producers, and that's where the flow of shows are discussed. My focus has always been on the storyline; the characters' build-up and narratives. I never diffuse my thoughts away from the set plan. I would get drafts and often rewrite them, or sections of them, myself. Then we have rehearsals in which I have a lot of time and ability to suggest changes. That's how it worked, and it is still working.
What stories inspire your shows?
We pay close detail to what's happening with kids, marriages, and the culture around us, and come to work to talk about things on our minds that could then translate into our shows. Even though our performances may be dramatic or may have been drifted from the realms of reality, still the audience loves it, and the TRPs prove it. We know we are good at our work and the audience has always appreciated it. Ektaa has trained us to evolve, and that's why we are constantly innovating and inventing ideas.
Television serials inescapably go stale. How do you know when it's time to put a successful show to bed and launch something else?
Every show comes with shelf-life and if the show has offered everything to its viewers, then I believe, instead of dragging by creating new sub-plots or showing leaps, give a dignified end, and channel your creative energy on another project.
What are your thoughts on the resumption of shooting amidst the pandemic and the changes that came along?
It is different to work with thin crews and fewer actors, but we are managing well. We adhere to hygienic guidelines that are near-universal, including social distancing between the crew members. It's a must to use face masks and follow the disinfection protocols. Closed sets are required almost everywhere, as are limits on the numbers of people on set at any one time. It is not easy, but the show must go on.
The role played by the media during this pandemic?
During the pandemic, the media is injecting positivity, and that's where we come to play. Audiences look forward to our shows for some relief from the chaos created by the pandemic. Television shows and web shows have altered the perspectives to make viewers happier ultimately, an optimistic attitude and the ability to switch off has helped the audience to cope better day-to-day. We saw more subscriptions and TRP ratings are our most powerful testimonials.
Do you think OTT platforms are infringing on television space?
It's not about television and DVDs anymore. People now view content everywhere: televisions, mobile phones, and connected devices. If you're not thinking technology first while filming today, you'll be left behind. I feel that there are large pockets in our country, which is dominated by television viewing. The television content is very different from what OTT offers, so looking at the current scenario, the audience is divided between OTT and television viewing.
Has technology disruption paved the way for creative content?
Television format pushes my creativity levels in a restricted space, whereas OTT formats have no restrictions on content, and one can go all out and engage with the audience. The OTT. format is pristine and more transparent and has created jobs for many. OTT. is a world where content is not merely re-purposed from one scene to the next, but where each screen's unique attributes are orchestrated into a single narrative.
What are the most important lessons you try to pass on to the next generation?
Be happy if you're doing your thing, reaching towards excellence is what one should aim at, and the entire universe conspires to assure your success. So stay committed to whatever you do.
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