Indian Telly Technical Awards: Writer Sumit Arora on why good content doesn't work on TV

MUMBAI: There are a number of people who work behind the camera to make the project a success. To credit, acknowledge, and honour them; we introduce to you the 15th edition of our annual Indian Telly Technical Trade and Programming Awards, which recognize the best in television production, editing, writing, direction, distribution, and creation.

Indian television writer Sumit Arora, who has contributed creatively to popular shows in the past, breaks down for us how the TV medium works.

On why good content doesn’t work on TV, Sumit says, ‘If you are writing for television, there are a number of things that you have to keep in mind. The most important thing is that you are writing for a mass. Television in India is not divided into niche sections. It is one big mass. As a creator, you are serving a vast audience with a mixed taste.’

‘You have to cater to the least common denominator and that does impact your creative process. And then, there is the pressure of a daily series, with most of the programming being daily in nature. That is the major cause of the haphazard way of storytelling, because it becomes impossible to keep a quality check after the first few episodes. Some shows manage to, but most fail. And the reality is that despite the constant mocking of a section class, these family dramas work well in our country.’

‘The bottom line is we need a change on both sides. The audience and the makers have to come together and make that change happen. If the audience likes watching saas–bahu dramas, then the makers and the GECs (general entertainment channels) will keep making those dramas.’

Are you listening, viewers?