By Anil Merani: For a long time, the fantasy genre held the Colors TV flag flying high; Naagin, with its seven, was its flag bearer. But now it seems that the public is tiring of bhoot pret, chudail naagin sutff.
No wonder Colors might not be bringing in Naagin 7 this year, and the channel is also pulling the plug on Suhagan Chudail; the show could not rate, 0.8 TVR is nothing home to write about, especially if you have Nia Sharma as the lead. This was the same rating with which the earlier show Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak had wrapped up. (It also had a reincarnation story.) Naagin numbers have consistently dipped as well.
It seems Colors mandarins have finally decided to give the genre a break
Sometimes a pause is alway better, which not only provides the audience with a break but also gives the writers something new to write
After seven seasons, there is nothing left in Naagin to squeeze out.
As for Suhagan Chudail the makers attempted to mix suhaagan (which is pious in India) with evil but did not click with the audiences. Agreed the story might be different, but you can’t mess with Indian values.
However, Suhaagan Chudiail’s producer, Alind Srivastav, maintains that the show was always a limited series meant to last only till Bigg Boss 18. So, we have not been axed. The wrap-up order has yet to come. We will inform you accordingly. “
Suhaagan Chudail’s male lead Zyan Ibad Khan maintains that the channel is happy with the show’s numbers.
Sadly for Colors, nothing seems to work fiction-wise; even their staple family drama needs to click.
While the decline in viewership is a concern, it’s also an opportunity for growth. The fantasy genre, a safe bet worldwide, still holds immense potential. Colors can undoubtedly return to it but with a twist. It’s time to move beyond the old tropes like Naagins and Chudails. The audience craves innovation, and it’s time to deliver.
Indian literature is a treasure trove of different kinds of fantasy stories. Munjya’s recent box office success is a testament to this. It’s high time the makers at Colors TV explore these new concepts. The audience is ready for a change, and it’s time to give them something fresh and exciting.