Writers' fraternity miffed with ITA (Indian Television Academy Awards)

The ITA (Indian Television Academy) Awards ground event took place recently. Though it was a night of glitterati but the event did not seem to amuse the writers’ fraternity (television) at all. The writers sent a plea to the Academy. They wanted inclusion of an award in their writing categories for ‘Story Writer’, which was rejected by the organization.

The ITA (Indian Television Academy) Awards ground event took place recently. Though it was a night of glitterati but the event did not seem to amuse the writers’ fraternity (television) at all. The writers sent a plea to the Academy. They wanted inclusion of an award in their writing categories for ‘Story Writer’, which was rejected by the organization.

Recently, the Film Writers’ Association sent out a letter to ITA requesting this addition. However, ITA sent a reply which stated that ‘there is no story in serials’ and hence, they cannot credit writers.
Here is the reply sent by ITA to the Film Writers’ Association...
November 2, 2012
To
Mr Kamlesh Pandey
General Secretary
The Film Writers’ Association
Mumbai
Dear Sir:
Thanks for your communication. As for your concerns, we may tell you that in The ITA Awards, the honours have always been accorded to the writers since the very inception. In fact, we were the first to include the Best Teleplay and the Best Dialogues Awards in our roster of honours.
Coming to your suggestion for including the Best Story awards, I may apprise you that when the categories for the Awards were decided by The ITA Governing Council comprising such illustrious stalwarts as Mahesh Bhatt, Javed Akhtar, Revathy etc. a lot of thought was given to it and it was concluded the writing in Television is all about Teleplay and Dialogues than anything else. The point of fact is that if you look around on present-day TV here, there is no story in the serials. It is just an assemblage of tracks fleshed up by Teleplay & dialogues. There is no ‘beginning-middle-end’ structure and there are examples galore that a serial starts with a Saas Bahu story and then becomes a fantasy tale of Ichhadhari Nagin or a serial starting as a whodunit takes detours to something like Patrick Swayze’s Ghost and so on.
So story, as understood in its classic definition, is patently absent here. That’s why we had decided not to keep a Best Story Award and accord rightful recognition to Teleplay & Dialogues.
This has also been corroborated by The ITA Juries for the last 11 years, comprising some of the biggest names of Television from various disciplines as Writing, Directing, Talent and Technicians. They have been in total consonance with the Academy on this count.
Besides, you would also appreciate that the prerogative of giving and Award has to lie with those who are embarking on the endeavour. It wouldn’t be a wholesome thing to force one upon them.
In fact, in the ‘Emmies’, conferred by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, they give it in only category, called ‘Writing’, without going into any further divisions like Teleplay, Dialogue or whatever. Surely, there must have been people who do not see eye to eye with them on this, but nobody has tried to impose categories on them, thereby respecting their own discretion as to what they want to honour – and we feel, that’s the way it should always be.
‘unfair treatment’ to TV writers. Instead, we have been the ones who have pioneered according honours to them.
Hoping that all your apprehensions are allayed:
Looking forward to the privilege of your presence at the Ceremony:
With sincere regards:
Truly yours,
Vierendra Bhargav
(CEO, The ITA)

This reply actually upset the writers’ fraternity and they have been putting forward their view points on the reply from ITA in social interworking sites. We got to read one such well-drafted note which was pasted on the Facebook page of producer Saurabh Tewari (Colors’ Madhubala- Ek Ishq Ek Junoon). The reply was in form of an open letter to Anu Ranjan and Shashi Ranjan (founders of the awards) and ITA. It read:

To, The Indian Television Awards, (ITA AWARDS)
This is with regards to your reply to the writers fraternity who requested you to include the category of 'Story Writer' in your 'prestigious' awards.

Your reply- "The point of fact is that if you look around on present day TV here, there is no story in the serials. There is no ‘beginning- middle- end’ structure and there are examples galore that a serial starts with a Saas- Bahu Story and then becomes a fantasy tale of ‘Ichchhadari Nagin’ or a serial starts as a Whodunit takes detours to something like Patrick Swayze’s Ghost and so on."
BEGINNING
Let me tell you something- these 'actors' that you felicitate for their performances happen to ACT in shows. They MOUTH dialogues that cannot be written without a screenplay in place that cannot be written without a story in place. You all happen to have four winners in two categories for one genre of actors and you dont have even nominations for a story writer across genres.
MIDDLE
Possibly because story writers only sit at home, work just as hard, but do not work out on their abs, have protein shakes, perform in front of the camera, do not become the coveted faces that can dance to songs for your weekend events for broadcasters. BUT, if there was 'no story in serials' I dont think Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai, Uttaran, Balika Vadhu, Taarak Mehta Ka Ulta Chashma would have been 1000 episode PLUS shows, I dont think we would have been able to give five, at times six and even seven episodes a week, 22 minutes every day. There is a team, at channel that works on what is working for the show, and there is a team this side that works on ideas, concepts, one lines for new shows, newer tracks, for healthy and heated competition. The fact that more slots open, more ad revenues are generated, newer ideas are experimented, audience follows these shows, every night with their entire family, segment by segment, episode by episode, week after week.
And these 'faces' that go on the cover of TV magazine been faces, if there was no story!
Every show works on a story and every successful show has people who work really hard. Just because we do not feature on Saas Bahu Saazish/Betiyaan in the middle of work, does not mean they dont work. And if there was no story, there wont be shows, no 'faces', no non fiction TV events and no magazine covers!!
END.
Thoughts -- TV WRITERS...

The above thoughts have been produced by us as it is. We are here just acting as an observer and a herald. To gain more clarity…we got in touch with Saurabh, but he was boarding a flight so asked us to call later (we will get his views in the coming hours).
Furthermore, on contacting Vierendra Bhargav, he replied in an agitated tone, “It is a very malicious act. ITA is the first and only organization that recognizes the contribution of writers. Check my letter and match it with what Saurabh has posted on Facebook. It has been tweaked and only an attempt to malign us. All allegations are false and fake.”
Well…this is a serious debate to ponder on. Voice your opinion here on how you feel about this debate…Do you think writers are not getting their due???

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TellychakkarTeam's picture

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Submitted by TellychakkarTeam on Thu, 11/08/2012 - 19:07

Comments

Vani's picture

Indeed writers are not getting their due. Why just writers, the really talented actors are NEVER given their due. Take the example of Kunal Karan Kapoor (who is sheer brilliance as Mohan Bhatnagar in Na Bole Tum Na Maine Kuch Kaha), who can act circles around all your precious award winners!! Why do you people continue to award the same old expressionless morons while glorious talents like KKK go unrewarded??? Would dearly love to get an answer to my question.
siyaah's picture

I agree with the ITA. Most Indian serials do not have a plot, rather, as the ITA said, are "an assemblage of tracks fleshed up by Teleplay & dialogues". Saas Bahu shows with constant leaps, marriages, and babies, for no reason are the antithesis of a true plot, as are any shows that change their so called "central plot" because of ratings. In order for there to truly be an award for storywriter, changes must be made to Indian television.
saamya's picture

I agree with ITA to certain extent. Current shows have no structure at all. I think writers are not given enough freedom and that's why we have to suffer with regressive shows on air thesedays. There were shows with good concept and structure. Take for example:Gulaal. But did any body care for such a masterpiece story? So my questions is even if such awards are included will it be rewarded to a deserving story? Currently,awards are given only based on popularity and not on talent..which actually sucks. why to add another category which will end up getting it rewarded to an undeserving story? I want total freedom for writers!!! and then speak about awards for them !

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