Virunnu Muriyille Vishabadha (Poison in the Guest Room) evoked huge interest on the final day of the Mathrubhumi Literary Festival her at the Kanakkakunnu palace. The panelists dwelled on how Television serials play a huge role in giving a negative effect to the viewers.
In 4 years time serials will collapse and may not enjoy the present viewership, said K K Rajeev, director and serial maker of the Television industry.
K Kunhikrishnan, writer and former Doordarshan assistant director, blamed the serial makers for making serials to grab the eyeballs. "There is no dearth of content especially with the severe floods that devastated the state. Then why don't serials be made of better quality with good content. The present serials are slow poisoning and I blame the channel owners for this, " K Kunhikrishnan said.
Psychiatrist C J John highlighted on how the serials at the present times have to keep abreast with YouTube and compete with them. With more serials being telecast as web series, it becomes a challenge to them. To compete with them, serials have to make compromises and it was found that elderly and housewives are the major chunk of viewers who watch serials at the drawing rooms.
He also stated that serials like the serial killing incident that rocked Koodathayi defeated the present serial makers and one on the mass killing is already as a serial.
Mediaperson Sriparvathy wanted to know why the present kind of serials in television fail to bring an indelible impression on the minds of the viewers. The episodes of various serials during the earlier times still remain afresh on the minds of the people which itself shows the quality standards. She wanted serials to be made for the new generation and avoid the new form of 'villathis'.
Taking the wrath of the panelists and the audience blaming the poor quality of serials, K K Rajeev replied that they are not to be blamed. During those times serials were made on a weekly basis, with one serial per week but nowadays it is on a daily basis. The serial makers have nothing to offer the viewers and can't even escape out. They have to make compromises and be within the boundaries. He also wanted the channel owners to give them the space and expose the creativity of the serial makers.
Earlier times the serial makers were given freedom to do what they want as time was not a factor. But now, producers can't give everything in that small space. With many private channels competing to excel in the field, it eats up into the creativity of the serial makers, he said.
Questions on banning serials and the remedial steps were also addressed at the open forum.
