Pits of 2012: Shows that failed to deliver

The year 2012 as always, has been eventful when it comes to the success and failures of Indian television shows. Today, we analyze the shows that got launched in the year 2012 amidst great expectations, but failed to deliver. Also, we touch upon the projects that went off the grid last year, within months’ of getting launched… First to the shows that ended: To begin with, Star Plus launched Sajda Tere Pyaar Mein, a Ravi Ojha Productions show which talked of a young girl who is forced to choose between love and duty. Though the show seemed to have a nice and unique concept on paper, the plot never appealed to a bigger section of the crowd and failed to gain TRPs. The result was that it was axed in just four months of run. Hats Off Productions’ Ek Doosre Se Karte Hain Pyaar Hum, the simple family drama on Star Plus did appeal to the viewers and had even touched a great phase in terms of TRPs, given the early slot it had got. However, the channel in its quest to aim for bigger numbers, decided to give the show a premature end. Bad luck to Hats Off indeed, as the show that made its way in, Mujhse Kuchh Kehti… Yeh Khamoshiyaan also failed to garner ratings. (We would touch upon this later). Star Plus’ unique attempt to redeem their weekend programming with a collection of unique love stories titled Teri Meri Love Stories got all the big names, starting from a Karan Singh Grover, Jennifer Winget, to Arjun Bijlani, Divyanka Tripathi, Iqbal Khan, Shilpa Anand, Karan Wahi to name a few, but the stories failed to bring in ratings. The series which saw its launch in August 2012 went on till October 2012 (especially because the channel went ahead and sanctioned short stories to many a production houses). Must say, a daring try which did not yield results. When it comes to Sony Entertainment Television, Shubh Vivah (UTV Productions) which opened with a lot of promise was a complete non-starter and was pulled off within four months of launch. Same was the case with Sony’s Byaah Hamari Bahu Ka (Hats Off Productions). Speculations of the show ending made news more than its story line or plot. Byaah was eventually pulled off after a six months run. Sphere Origins’ multi-cast show Love Marriage Ya Arranged Marriage was to talk of the pros and cons of love and arranged marriages that prevailed in India. But again, the show was a complete failure and managed to have a run of just five months. Amongst the Colors shows launched in the year 2012, Kairi – Rishta Khatta Meetha (Shashi-Sumeet Mittal Productions Pvt. Ltd) talked about the sweet as well as bitter moments of life. The show was launched with great expectations, but never delivered in terms of ratings. Launched in April 2012, the show breathed its last even before the year 2012 ended. Chhal – Sheh Aur Maat, the thriller and unique show from 24 Frames failed to provide the required ‘thrill’ and ‘intrigue’ and was reduced to a normal family drama before the show saw its last in October 2012. Life OK’s experimental show, Aasmaan Se Aage (Sagar Arts and 72 Degrees Northe) was to talk of the ‘bitter reality’ behind reality shows, but the channel decided to cut short the experiment within a span of three months. Hats Off Productions’ Alaxmi – Humari Super Bahu on Life OK got rechristened as Alaxmi Ka Super Parivaar in just three months of its launch. The show which is presently airing at the weekend slot is due to be taken off air later this month (to be precise, January 26 2013). SAB TV which is the only channel that provides wholesome comedy has had its share of success. But many of their newly launched shows failed to deliver ratings in the year 2012. Shows like Bhai, Bhaiiya Aur Brother, Golmaal Hai Bhai Sab Golmaal Hain, Season 2 of Sajan Re Jhoot Mat Bolo, I Love My India bit the dust in quick time. While the above mentioned list talks of shows that saw its launch as well as debacle in the same year (2012), there are others that launched in the year 2012 amidst some huge promotion campaigns and were heralded as ‘big’ projects, but unfortunately failed to ring in results. Of them, the Shri Adhikari Brothers show on Sony, Hongey Judaa Na Hum talked about as being the comeback vehicle of the beautiful Aamna Shariff is still on air only for the reason that there is no new show ready for launch on the channel. Anamika, on Sony Entertainment Television (produced by Trishula Productions) was supposed to be the next daily thriller show to grab eye-balls. But the ratings registered so far seem to tell a different story. Star Plus has had a bad start to the year 2013, with two of their new shows (launched just before 2012 could end) Mujhse Kuchh Kehti… Yeh Khamoshiyaan (Trilogy Krikos and Thought Train Entertainment) and Kaali – Ek Punar Avatar (Shakuntalam Telefilms) performing dismally. For the uninitiated, Khamoshiyaan had a huge promotion campaign prior to its launch that aroused the curiosity of masses with its ‘Gauri Bhonsle Missing’ hoardings. Ramayan, the mythological from the stables of Moti Sagar Productions was launched amidst great fanfare on Zee TV and was expected to redefine TV viewing on Sunday morning. However, the show (though still on air) has failed to impress many, and has been registering low ratings. Another mythological, Jai Jagjanani Maa Durga on Colors, produced by Sagar Arts was touted to be the next big mythological to do well after the success story of Devon Ke Dev Mahadev on Life OK, but the show has literally gone unnoticed so far.. We are now into the New Year 2013, and we wish and hope that the year turns out to be brilliant in terms of creativity!! May the small screen rule…