Editor-turned-creative head Dolphy Fernandes currently has two successful shows under his belt namely SAB TV’s Lapataganj - Ek Baar Phir and Chidiya Ghar. In a chat with Tellychakkar.com, Dolphy speaks about his journey in the television industry and more. Excerpts: To start with, how long have you been in the TV industry? (smiles) Well, I have been here for approximately 16 years now. Having started off as an editor in the TV industry, I edited several shows for 8 to 10 years. Now, since four to five years, I have been a part of the creative team. I am now the Creative Head of Chidiya Ghar and Lapataganj- Ek Baar Phir. What made you shift from editing to the creative department? Though editing is creative, it is a technical job too. The job of a creative head is more innovative. How did you learn the art of editing as you never pursued any course of the same? (laughs) Initially, I joined as assistant to an editor and worked on Doordarshan shows for a year or two. After that, I became the editing & associate creative head. What do you like the most: being in the creative team or editing? Though both the jobs are nice, I prefer being in the creative team as the head though. In editing, one has no choice but just to work on the product which is handed over to you after shooting. As a creative head, you have the privilege to work right from the inception stage of a TV show or an episode. As a creative head, you can execute your original ideas. But in comparison the scope for creativity is very limited in editing. As an editor, all I can do is improve the product which has already been shot. Can you name some of the shows that you have edited? I edited Sony TV’s Hum Sab Ek Hain, Meri Biwi Wonderful, Yeh Duniya Hai Rangeen and some episodes of Rajini. Then for Zee TV, I did Pancham, for Star Plus I did Sarthi and Kabhi Yeh Kabhi Woh for Doordarshan and quite a few tele films. I was the editor and did the creative supervision of about the first 450 episodes of Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah. Then I along with producer Asit Modi would take all the creative calls. I have been the creative head of Hum Aapke Hain In Laws and Lapataganj Season 1. And as I told you I am handling two shows. I did a lot of work for SAB TV as their creative head. I have done many comedies as they interest me immensely. What attracted you to comedies? (pauses) I have done some shows which were known primarily for their social messages, but I have made more of comedies. I enjoy working with SAB TV as they mainly delve into comedy shows that are meant for family viewing. Would you like to work on silent comedies in future? (laughs) It would be interesting to work for silent comedies. As there are no dialogues whatsoever, you have to work on visuals. As a matter of fact, I will accept any work that comes my way. What is your definition of comedy? If the viewers burst out laughing on seeing your show, you have made good comedy, but if they aren’t, then you have failed to create good comedy. Once again certain jokes just tickle specific people and we need to come up with jokes which will make most viewers’ laugh. The fun element should appeal to all age groups starting from a child to a senior citizen. SAB TV aims at making the whole family sit together and enjoy a particular show. Isn’t it difficult to make a comedy show on a daily basis? Making comedy is tough whether it is on a daily or a weekly format. It is a challenge to make people laugh. It is even harder to make comedy every day; you have to come up with a good script with hilarious gags and jokes. In tear jerker soaps, on the contrary, you can play on the same emotion for may be a week but in a comedy, a particular track has to be over in a week or so. That is the reason why prolonging it isn’t a good idea. How much do you improvise in your current shows? The actors and directors improvise a lot on the sets. I improvise on the script level. Since Ashwini Dhir is the creator and director of both the shows, he is very much involved with the plot. I coordinate with the writer on the brief he gives us to improve the comedy on the visual and dialogue level. We have to think of innovative ideas which will make the kids laugh too. We should come up with jokes which the viewers can comprehend. If we impart a social message along with it, it is all the more better. Then it is called as a story with a purpose. Instead of making people weep to convey a particular message, it is better to convey the same by way of laughter. Do your artistes rehearse before shooting? Yes, we do so, as the director has a vision too after the writer submits his script. That needs to be imparted to the artistes. During the rehearsals, improvisation takes place and that adds value to the product. I believe that the target audience of SAB TV isn’t the affluent but the middle class. Comment. SAB TV’s target viewers are mainly the middle class families. Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah is for the urban middle-class, whereas Lapataganj is for the rural people. FIR is for the middle-class too. Jeannie aur Juju and Baal Veer are fantasy shows. SAB TV mainly portrays middle-class families in their shows. We have heard that since you have already exhausted the stories of novelist Sharad Joshi, you are creating your own stories instead in the second season of Lapataganj. Is this piece of information correct? Even in the first season, all the episode stories were not based on Sharad Joshi’s stories; some of the episodes were solely penned by our writers. Yes, our writers are penning the stories of Season 2. Ashwiniji thinks of the stories and plots. Why did so many actors leave Chidiya Ghar and are you thinking of introducing new characters? Ashwiniji is thinking of new characters who may be introduced soon. Each and every human character of Chidiya Ghar is based on an animal. We chalk out the mannerisms of the characters based on the animalistic traits they are to possess. Shilpa Shinde, who was playing Koyal Ghotak Narayan (cuckoo) wasn’t satisfied with her track. Aashif Sheikh who was earlier playing Pappi Bhaisahab (dog) and Tapasya Nayak who was essaying the role of Kitti (cat) left because their characters were not working too well. We too did not want to stretch these roles. Many characters were simply episodic. So, not many actors have left. Do you prefer seasons or a daily format? I think it is the daily format which works in India. As there is a break before the second season is launched, viewers may not be too keen to return to the show. There are more followers for a daily format in our country. What do you think is the future of comedy TV shows in India? Both SAB TV and comedy shows have a promising future. There are stand-up comedies on other channels too. Colors has also launched a new show which is titled Mrs Pammi Pyarelal. So, comedy is gradually gaining popularity on all channels.