TV's defining moments

As one stands on the cusp of end and beginning of a new decade, in a country where TV is promised as an election sop and its health minister terms it as a contraceptive, one better believes that size does not matter.

From shaky, snowy, blurred pictures on bulky TV sets to digital quality stuff on flat screens, the tube world is something to look out for.

Though TV has been around for 50 years now, the last decade has so far been the most defining in its history. It was during this time when not only TV gave its big brother, Bollywood a run for its money but also set new trends.

This silent revolution began one night quietly at 1030 on Star Plus, in early 2000s when a complete non-descript cast and crew went on air with their serial Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabi Bahu Thi. And as they say, rest is history.

It went on to become the longest running serial in the history of television. It single-handedly changed the course of TV and definition of entertainment in the country.

The homely, docile but assertive desi bahu, Tulsi, played by then a small-time actress Smriti Irani soon became a national obsession. Edits and obits were being written on her on-screen hubby Mihir played by Amar Upadhaya's demise in the serial.

Audience forced the serial's producer Ekta Kapoor to resurrect his character. And again another new trend was born. Terming the last decade as "most significant" for TV industry, Smrit Irani says today it is offering a lot more job opportunities as well as variety to the audience.

"In terms of creativity, production values the last ten years have been extremely significant," Smriti told PTI. TV was not offering solace or bread to these little-known actors alone. Bollywood mega star, Amitabh Bachchan, in search of megabucks and the limelight which had deserted him then, reinvented himself with Sidharth Basu's game show Kaun Banega Corepati in 2000. The KBC show revived his movie career too.

Like his other movie dialogues, Big B mouthing Nau Baj Gaye Kya...? and Lock Kiya Jaye...? once again caught the fancy of an entertainment-crazy nation. Needless to say the show became an instant hit and went on to be a pioneer in the concept of non-script shows.

Years later stars like Salman Khan, Shah Rukh too aped him. If Amitabh graced the small screen, its ruling stars like Rajeev Khandewal, Amnaa Sharif, Mona Singh, Amar Upadhaya were busy trying their luck in the big world of Bollywood.

The success story of the Indian TV industry which started with the launch of Zee TV, the first private channel, was carried forward by Sony and Star. Their regional brethren too mushroomed and the entertainment-starved audience started facing a problem of plenty with a plateful of it -- from daily soaps to reality shows.

Sameer Nair, CEO of NDTV Imagine, says the highlight of this decade has been the spurt in regional, sports and news channels. "Content is evolving...we are still doing daily soaps with reality shows which are not only song and dance based anymore," he told PTI.

As Nair said, it was not only the number of General Entertainment Channels (GECs) going up. Indians, who till then were used to bland news, very much akin to dull documentaries, suddenly woke up to a new phenomenon called 'breaking news'. As the news channels beamed images of an ageing Karunanidhi being dragged out of his house in the dead of the night, twin towers in the US coming crashing down on 9/11; the life and psyche of a common Indian was all set to undergo a sea change forever.

While it did wonders for people like Ramdev Baba and Rakhi Sawant who owe their existence to the TV, it was also instrumental in brining the perpetrators of Jessica Lall murder case or the very recent Ruchika molestation case to the book.

One major reason for TV's growing popularity as per Smriti Irani was the variety it was offering. "While earlier the viewers had a few choices, today there is a variety to choose from," the 33-year-old actor said and added the number of consumers and therefore advertising content on TV has gone up considerably.

Another highlight was successful broadcast of IPL or Indian Premier League. But as new trends came and went, audience stuck with shows like celebrity chef Sanjeev Kapoor's Khanna Khazana and CID, Boogie Woogie, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa.

Meanwhile, channels like Discovery and National Geographic too were doing good work finding viewership. As always is the case, everything is not hunky dory in the small world. Charges of obscenity has forced closure of seven channels, several others are facing notice for 27 controversial reality shows including Iss Jungle See Mujhe bachcho, Raaz Pichle Janam ke, Sach Ka Samna.

Still, Smriti feels right now there is a lot of stagnancy and stiff competition in the TV industry. "As one and all are trying their luck here, like fortunes change every Friday in Bollywood, fortunes change here every Wednesday, when TRPs are out. Right now, there is no one star, one show, or channel which enjoys all attention," she said.

Call it an idiot box or anything, today, small is the new big. One may love it or hate it, no one can ignore it.