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They
are the backbone of any television production. They not only conceive award winning
shows but also have the foresight to gauge their potential.They also provide the
moolah that keeps these shows alive and kicking for years. In this column, we
speak to some of the most vibrant producers who have made shows that have set
trends in the television industry and try to find out what makes them tick!
If
there is anything like an archetypal producer she for sure doesn't fit the bill.
She is soft-spoken, polite, doesn't use cuss words and is very young. But don't
get taken in with her image. The lady is all-steel. And yes knows her business
well. But that is no surprise for a person who belongs to the old and respected
Rajshri family of movie makers. The business of entertainment runs through their
veins. Interestingly, in 1985 Rajshri had been one of the earliest television
serial producers with the telecast of its first tele-serial Paying Guest,
a weekly on Doordarshan, in a finite format of 26 episodes. Almost two decades
later they are doing the same and as successfully. Kavita
Barjatya, the daughter of Kamal Kumar Barjatya is a second generation Barjatya
who handles the television arm of Rajshri Productions. Kavita looks into
the serials' creative aspects and controls its daily operations. Right from her
first programme Woh Rehne Waali Mehlon Ki to her current show Main Teri
Parchhain Hoon on NDTV Imagine, Kavita has left her footprint. In
an exclusive to tellychakkar Kavita talks about her new serial, her family and
her dreams.
On her shift to TV: I assisted Suraj bhaiya in
Main Prem ki Deewani. So when he suggested I look at TV I decided to take
it up. Though it was a mindset change (from films to TV) looking at the returns
it feels great. Films come once a year but TV shows are an on-going process. Another
good thing about television is that we have the option of replacement with us
as against in films where this can never happen. Earlier TV was a difficult
medium to deal with and movies were more in demand. But now in the growing media,
26 per cent is films and a major chunk of 55 per cent is television. Today TV
is a big medium. It offers livelihood to so many people on a regular basis as
against films where the waiting for your next project is very uncertain. The respect
a technician gets is bigger than his film counterpart as he gets to work on multiple
shows. He is valued more and is rarely out of work. On her role as producer: We
are a joint family and I report to my father on finances and to my brother Suraj
on the creative aspects. I come from a film mindset and have learned to give respect
to time. Though in films this can be managed but where TV is concerned it is my
job to ensure that strict time lines are maintained. The work is humungous. I
produce 2 ½ hours of content every week which is almost as much as a film.
I like to get personally involved with everything that is done on the sets. My
effort has been to associate good and deserving people with our production house.
But what's important is that my creative side always governs my business side.
If I have to re-shoot I don't think about the money. On her family:
I was very young when my dadaji passed away. But I do recall what
he said to me once. He was explaining the reason behind the Rajshri films emblem
which is Goddess Saraswati. He said that everything that goes from our production
house has the blessings of the Goddess. Even today any content that is generated
from Rajshri has to be about culture, family and values. This is my priority as
well. My critics are all in my house. My mom and my servant always do a perfect
post mortem of the previous day's show. In fact the TRPs rest with them.  |
On
her choice of Sahara and NDTV Imagine: A good show will do well on any
channel. However, a show like ours which went against the existing conventions
is not possible without the support of a channel. Both the channels have been
the least interfering channels we've worked with. Initially I was a bit skeptical
of the 10.30pm slot for my new show, Main Teri Parchhain Hoon on NDTV Imagine
as it meant being pitted against shows like Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi,
etc. But the channel was confident and my show is picking up. I am happy
if the channel is happy. All I know is that I must be loyal and do my job well. On
her latest show, Main Teri Parchhain Hoon NDTV Imagine publicised
my show very aggressively in UP as that is the Rajshri strong hold. We are sure
of the story and will end it when we don't have a story. On the biggest
challenge she faces: Challenge for me means good quality in a short time
(due to time deadlines) and living up to Rajshri standards. On her dreams: I
want the banner to be recognized. It's great when I hear actors say that they
want to be on our serials for the good work environment we provide.
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By Jaahnavi P Paal |
Posted
on 12 Feb 2008 3:30 pm | | | |