Indian serials are shown on various TV channels e.g., Star One, Life Okay, Star Bharat, Star Plus, Zee TV, Colors, Sab, Rishtey, &TV, Sony TV. The serials are telecasted literally every day and they introduce different cultures from all over India e.g., how Gujarati, Punjabi, Bengali, Rajasthani, Marathi, Tamil and other backgrounds existing in Indian society. The intention is to entertain and educate the audience about Indian religions, culture, traditions, customs, principles, self-esteem, limits and values. Shows are telecasted in and out of India to.
Although many audiences claim that they are interested in watching Indian TV serials and they upgrade expensive channels, they are disappointed with story because of the bad influence of it in the society. Not just Indian, but also non-India community think the same.
All Indian Tv serials show common stories containing too much violence, family disputes, arguments, shouting and so on. Audience feels uncomfortable because their family would adapt the same way believing that is the right way. They would also feel psychologically disturbed as it plays in their mind.
Serials have to stick to the topic and should not run too long. These serials are running too long and audience lose interest because they feel bored and stories have no logic. Stretching one point in the serial makes the story go off the track and once the audience lose interest the TRP (Target Rating Point) would fall, which would also have an impact of the serial.
Serials do not value emotions and insult Indian religions, culture, traditions, customs, principle, self-esteem, limits and values. They are misinterpreted by the audience and Non-Indian society would look at the Indian society in the negative impression. This is how reputation is lost because; directors, producers and writers just add up what they think and would match the storyline, which is not the right.
Serials do not match with the titles. The audience do not get the right message. The serials should match the title and that is the only way the serial would make sense. Audience do not get the point of why the serial is made and it shown to them. One of the essential parts in the Indian TV serials is how relationship and shame and modesty is maintained, which is many cases are shattered easily.
Audience that has been watching serials are aware of what roles suit the characters. But nowadays roles are given that do not suit them. E.g., if one of the characters have played a positive role in one of the serials, they would offered to play a negative role in another serial whether it may suit or not.
Characters overreact with too much shouting and crying. It has just become too much of a nuisance for the audience to watch. They would stop watching the serials in the middle or would change the channel. Why would they not? Characters also feel uncomfortable playing roles they are told. But they have to play it to be on television and to get paid. They are aware that this is what glamour world is all about. Do they have a choice?
Serials shows every day with repeat telecasted twice a day. This just make the audience stick to the television and not do at anything. They are mesmerised by the serials. They do not give importance to their other responsibilities other than watching Indian TV serials. Is this what entertainment is all about that everything should be forgotten? The serials run in the audiences’ mind and sense. Following every episode is like an achievement them.
As Indian families are the main target audience, this is the sort of influence and atmosphere they would have. They do not understand what joint family is and people happen to think that living together as a joint family would create disputes, which is not true. There will be no respect and values.
In society, people will not respect for their values. No culture, traditions, customs, principle, self-esteem, limits and values would exist. People would not know how to interact and would just want to do what they feel like. Should this be the case?
Non-Indian families are also the viewers and when they watch, they would like to see how Indian families work and culture, traditions, customs, principle, self-esteem, limits and values circulates. If they see violence, family disputes, arguments, shouting and so on, would they have a positive opinion about Indian value? This would just create a negative image of the Indian society and leave a bad impression.
Audience has to be respected because they are of all ages. Dialogues used are too strong and inappropriate. Showing serials with too much disturbance would not be suitable for everyone and would be a negative impact on their brains. Would audience want their families disturbed with violence and disputes? Also, serials set bad examples for the viewers and they easily misinterpret what is said. They fail to understand they people on the screen are paid and are just acting.
The poor TRP (Target Rating Point) rating is what the result would be for serials that do not interest the audience for showing what does not set good example and corrupts society. When the serials go off air, this would show that what they were showing was not right and they should have made the amendments. But it is too late and other serials do not learn from the mistakes, but are lucky to get away.
Due to no consistency, audience are more likely lose interest and would stop watching the shows. They would disconnect the channels and probably just watch ordinary channels, e.g., sports, news, talk shows, yoga and so on.
The serials should stop showing too much violence, family disputes, arguments, shouting in the serial. Serials should also not run too long. They should just stick to the point and finish within one to two years.
When interpreting Indian religious, culture, traditions, Customs, principle, self-esteem, limits and values properly, it is important that sentiments are considered. They should not exaggerate things that audience would be “forced” to avoid their cultures.
The channels should show comedy serials, talk shows and others. They should try and focus on other areas. This would keep the audience interested.
As a result, this is what I believe should be put into practice. They should carry out a questionnaire and find what is good and bad to work on what they need. Read and act on the complaints made by the audience. This is how the audience would keep their interest in the serials and I look forward for this to happen. TV Channels need to be enlightened that showing this sort of serials are not going to set any good examples in the society for anyone to learn and take forward. It is now time that they understand it.