The kind of audience that 24 caters to is not reflected properly in the ratings game - Abhinay Deo

Abhinay Deo, director of Anil Kapoor produced 24 does not seem one bit disappointed with the numbers his thriller Colors show has been getting on the TVT chart. “Our real-time concept has been widely appreciated by professionals and people in urban areas. Agreed the TVT numbers are lower when compared to what other fiction shows have been getting, but I feel that the kind of audience my show caters to is not reflected properly in the ratings game which itself is suspect. I think the channel has also understood this and hence it has green-lighted season 2,” he observes. Talking of the popular English show, Abhinay says without mincing words, “Even internationally, 24 took some time to pick up and what gives us the confidence is that Fox (international broadcaster who sold the rights of 24 to Colors) has said that we have taken the concept to a different level and our show is better than the original.” Comparing his shows to the others now showing on TV, Abhinay observes, “I further wish to point out that we are not opposed to what is currently the flavour on the tube. We don’t want to hurt Diya Aur Baati Hum but only want to offer an alternative. This change is needed, otherwise how will fiction grow? Not only us, even others are attempting to push the envelope as far as content goes - e.g Endemol’s desi interpretation of the hit US medical drama Grey's Anatomy. We all require a degree of support.” However, a certain amount of hurt is felt when he states that Indian television is still backward. “One of the biggest reasons why major B-town actors and technicians stay away from TV is the quality of content which is greatly influenced by budgets. You can’t make a Mission Impossible at the cost of a Bodyguard,” he asks. Asked if he will try to make season 2 of 24 (that is supposed to come on air next year) a bit more massy, the Delhi Belly director retorts, “No, we will remain true to the concept of 24 and I think the audience will also mature up to the content. You need to give them sample good shows e.g. Dil Chahta Hai was a flop when it was made in 2001, whereas Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara which had a similar story and was shot abroad, became a hit when released ten years later.” We simply hope Indian television rises to the occasion and makes different content, going by the example of 24!!