TV DREAMS @ 2015

·         Masters of Television business analyse the trends and predicts the future trends ,So it’s a thing being already taken care of.No need to guess or predict what might happen in Indian Television in 2015.

·         We would rather share our personal Wish List for 2015.Though It’s a personal wish list,It will pass through the professional dimentions of Television industry reflecting the needs and the desires!!!

·         Where to start!!!

·         From the point when it all began :

·         Hum Log –India’s first soap opera;

·         Lets remake that.

·         Allready,The age of Remaking has started in Television;

·         Pavitra Rishta , Sasural Genda Phool , Satrangi Sasural on Zee TV recently;

·         Why not the selected old classics from the Doordarshan era!!!

·         Buniyaad , Rajni , Malgudi Days , Ye Jo Hai Zindagi , Charitraheen , Chunouti , Neev ,  List is endless.

·         For this ,We need a business model;

·         There are so many to create a great business model for this.

 

·         What else!!!!

·         Lets try to innovate a new method of story telling and its execution;

·         Lets create a multi dimentional programming stream;

·         Lets attempt to create an eco system where on air experiments are possible;

·         Lets decide finally:What works in Television :Gut or Research!!!

·         Lets search for the tools  to create a less pressurized work atmosphere ,Pressures affects creative output;

·         Lets get better and open  communication between various stake holders;

·         Lets make things more transparent;

·         Lets not build only houses;Lets build companies; (We are impressed with the way Shashi Sumeet Productions is moving , They are building the company)

·         Lets bring BARC this year. (What do we do with TAM!!!)

·         Producers!!!! Lets talk more to each other;

·         Lets resolve the all Copyright issues at FWA and for producers;

·         Lets create institutions around Television business; (A direct request to you Mr Uday Shankar)

·         India hears to  Dr Subhash Chandra Show;

·         Lets hear from him on Television continuously,He could be the best teacher. (Please make a request to him on our behalf ,Mr Punit Goenka)

·         Where is Ronnie!!!

·         He Tweets on whole of India;

·         Lets get him back somehow in Indian Television also ;We need him;

·         Oh!!!! Off Course,We need Zarina also;

·         Lets respect and honour the efforts of a man –Mahesh Samat of Epic;

·         Lets create a new programming around sports. (Training Required!!!!)

·         Lets be aware of the new language –The language of the Digital Content :Just see that :Its fresh!!

·         Lets write on contemporary Television;

·         Lets express ourselves (Without fear of losing businesses);

·         Lets appreciate people like  Mr Anand Mahindra and  Mr Mukesh Ambani who have arrived to change our Eco Systems : Take Over of Network 18 and Viacom 18 : Launch of Epic!!!

·         Lets send flowers to NMA – As Mrs Nita Mukesh Ambani  is called within the RIL – For her great display of support to various Television ventures;

·         Lets send best wishes to Mr Amir Khan – For using his brand value to give us a usefull Television show;

·         Lets hear to Prime Minister Narendra Modi more on Television please,Our own version of MAN KI BAAT!!!

·         Lets make a Show for the needs of the nation – Not for the TRPs;

·         Lets ask  Rajat Sharma Sir –My Mentor – to give us a new channel;

·         Lets innovate Doordarshan. (Thank You Mr Arun Jaitley for meeting the producers.)

·         Oh!!!!Lets see Farmers Channel of the government. (My friend Junaid Memon has already launched a channel for farmers :GREEN TV : Congratulations!!!!)

·         Lets welcome Vinod Kapdi into the entertainment industry. (My old collegue and friend from News who has sold his directorial debut film to Star Plus,He proves that anyone can do anything :Best Luck for Miss Tanakpur Hazir Ho)

·         Lets encourage those TVwalaas who are independently creating entertainment content for Web :Creating Future today;

·         Lets see new anchors on News Television;

·         Lets create bridges between Regional and National Television;

·         Lets educate ourselves more on Technology;

·         Lets create some Hot Lines systems within Television Industry,Where voices could be heard;

·         Lets force  Anirudhdh Pathak to continue with his strong ventures like Mahadev and Mahakumbh;

·         Lets expect to see Anil Kapoor’s 24 this year. (Requesting Ms Manisha Sharma and Mr Raj Nayak very strongly)

·         Lets continue to see Mr Bachchan in KBC;

·         Lets support Siddharth Tewari ; He brought a new element in Television –An Elephant!! (WOW!!!)

·         Lets request Ekta to give us some nation shaking show;

·         Lets go to Uday Shankar,Lets hear him on various things of life,It all is usefull for people in Television;

·         Lets attempt a studio model in Television;

·         Lets continue to have high hopes from a leader who works silently :Mr Punit Goenka!!! (Like Father,Like Son!!!)

·         Lets continue to react on : The Nation Wants to Know!!!! ( His Energy is inspiring!!! Remember my words : He can be the next Uday Shankar in Entertainment world , If he decides to venture into.)

·         Lets have Musical Fictions on Television;

·         Lets have a great Trade Magazine of Indian Television; (Few exists but not so good)

·         Lets create the most hated Reviewers for Television too; (Requesting Khalid Mohammed to attempt here.)

·         Lets stretch our time bands please;

·         Lets get the morning and afternoon band back please. (Requesting Business Heads to give us a model)

·         Lets attempt Revenue Share model in Television;

·         Lets create Sports Entertainment Professional. (Only Mr Uday Shankar can do that)

·         Lets see more from Animation Experts!!! (Where are you Guys!!!! Please arrive!!! )

·         Lets have Apps for the industry;

·         Lets have Apples for our Kids who sometimes get ignored because of our work;

·         Lets sit and think –Where we all are heading to!!!

·         Lets give more time to our families;

·         Lets spend sometime in reading books;

·         Lets create  for our own.

·         Shashi and Sumeet Mittal – We heard your old poem..Write Again please , Saurabh Tewari,Please have a Baithak for Recitating Poems , Nirav Vaidya – Get your poems out in public,Sing them aloud please,You have got a beautifull voice,Let the world know…Samidha Khalid..Ourselves…Please Compose Music,Sing,Write Lyrics..Publish your Fiction Novels and Non Fiction Books now..Sudhir Sharma..We want to see your great photography..Kinnari Mehta..Please share your paintings with us..JD Majithia..Give us a new play please..Why have you stopped doing that..Shanti Bhushan..You taught Bhojpuri to Amir Khan for PK,You can give all of us a lot more.

·         The list will not end;

·         Lets rediscover our personal creativities;

·         Lets enjoy that too;

·         We all have been Creative People;

·         Lets live happily;

·         Lets live Creatively;

·         Lets live purposefully;

·         With our Industry;

·         With our Families;

·         With our Nation;

 

·         Lets enjoy the arrival of 2015 on the night of 31^st December;

·         And sleep;

·         To see;

·         TV DREAMS @ 2015 !!!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE UDAY SHANKAR EFFECT !!!

Uday Shankar;

The Star of Star India , The  Star of Indian Television;

 

After 5 Years;

Uday  is going to change the entire face of Hindi Cinema;

Yes,You have read this correctly;

Hindi Cinema!!!

 

Uday  is going to change the entire face of Indian Politics;

Yes,You have read this also correctly;

Indian Politics!!!

 

Has he ever told us anything like this!!

Never;

Its hypothetical;

Its imaginary;

Nor,We say, that he will do this;

But yes,We say,He can do this;

Anything like this;

Or

Anything else;

Which looks hypothetical today;

Which looks imaginary today;

Any imaginary hypothesis can convert into a real effect!!!

“The Uday Shankar Effect”

 

When we discuss Uday Shankar;

We should allways be ready with the possibilities of the impossibilities;

Such is his life,and its role for the surroundings whereever  it works at that moment;

Out of our 20 years  in Television, 19 years have been spent on watching the journey of this  effect :The Uday Shankar Effect!!!

Today;

For the first time;

Its time to analyse it;

Its time to share it;

But its very difficult;

So many of his inspiring and great lines were said in a personalised space , Is it time to share that!!

So many of his inspiring acts and activities are yet to be told to the world , Is it time to share that!!

So many inspiring  traits of his professional personality are to be taught, Is it time to share that!!

It’s a Book;

We leave it for the near future;

Now;

Better  that we share,what he has created through the effect;

No;

We will not write about his TV shows , Sports Ventures,Business Plans or anything like that;

You read that at so many places;

Let this piece of writing be a  personalised mirror of his journey seen through our eyes;

Yes,We witnessed the journey;

The  Journey  which must be a source of inspiration for the young professionals!!!!

The  Journey which can be studied as an effect  - his effect;

So Dear Young Professionals!!!! 

Lets begin the journey to understand the Uday Shankar Effect!!

 

EFFECT 1 / DARE TO BRING DIFFERENCE !!!



If we have got a nice opening as a Journalist at a big  institution like Times of India;

If we are getting a high profile exposure to the biggest political developments of the nation;

How many of us  would want to do something new at this early stage!!!

Not many of us!!!

Uday Shankar  did that;

Helped to  start a Science and Environment Magazine :Down to Earth

Science and Environment is not , and was not , a favourite issue for any journalist then!!!

He believed that Its needed for the society!!!

Difference has to be provided and tested!!!

 

Years later:

Closing “Kyonki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi” ,The same man started :Kiran  Bedi’s Aapki Kachehri” on the same slot on Star Plus!!!!

He is not a different person only today;

He was , even then;

He cultivated his attitude to experiment with the different , years ago!!!

A lesson for all Young Professionals !!!

 

EFFECT 2 / ACCEPT THE NEW!!!

 

 

Year 1995;

J 27 , South Extention , New Delhi , Zee TV Office;

We met Uday Shankar for the first time at the reception of this  office; (Its converted into a house now!!!! L )

He had arrived in Television;

A totally new medium for him at that time;

Many people from the Print Background joined Television and went back;

Uday Shankar stayed on;

Delivered different programming content and then came the  News Bulletin  on Zee TV;The Zee News @ 10 pm everyday  on Zee TV!!!

He was still there;

Having very different ideas about News Programming and News Bulletins;

Having very different ideas about encouraging the youngsters;

I remember:

One Morning,In the Newsroom; As  I  entered the Newsroom;

Shazi Zaman asked : What could be the biggest News of today from West Asia?

I replied : Assasination of Yasser Arafat;

Uday jumped into it and said, “ Full Marks”

The Prime Minister of Israel Itsak Rabin was assasinated that morning and not Yasser Arafat;

He supported the wrong answer,As it was closest to the right answer,without any clue from anywhere!!

He supported the spirit of the wrong answer;

He was supporting a newcomer;

In the mid of;

Accepting a totally new medium for himself;

 

Years later:

Many Newspersons are appointed by him to deliver Fiction Content at Star India , Many youngsters are encouraged for delivering ideas and things at Star India;

He is not a different person only  today;

He was , even then;

He cultivated his attitude to accept the new mediums and to encourage new people   , years ago!!!

A lesson for all Young Professionals !!!

 

EFFECT 3 / EXPLORE THE UNEXPLORED!!!



Early 90s;

Home TV Office,South Delhi;

Uday Shankar was working on a project which was totally new for Indian viewers!!!

A Sports show in English coming from the US,To be dubbed in Hindi for the Indian Viewers;

Showing Sports which were not well known to Indian viewers then;

He called me;

Convert it in such a Hindi narrative that viewers watch it as their own show,Let them accept a new game!!!

26 Episodes!!!! (Sorry,I have forgotten the name of the show!!! L )

 

Years later :

Star India has launched one of the biggest Television initiative  for encouraging and creating Sports Activities in the country .Various Sports Channels ,Pro Kabaddi , ISL and we are sure..Dozens of newer things yet to come!!!!!

He is not a different person only today;

He was , even then;

He cultivated his attitude to explore the unexplored, years ago!!!

A lesson for all Young Professionals !!!

 

EFFECT 4 / RAISE  VOICE , RAISE YOUR CONVICTION !!!



The launch of Aaj Tak!!!!

SP Singh had created a bulletin on Doordarshan , There was no channel;

So many people to work on the new channel that was to be named as “AAJ TAK”;

So many discussions,So many voices,So much of time and energy wasting  into that;

Uday Shankar watched all this!!!

He did something daring but very positive;

Through this daring but very positive something,He raised  a totally different and distinct voice!!!

 And when things were not moving,His voice was heard;

Why!!!

Because he raised his voice !!!!He raised his conviction !!!

And he became the one who  launched India’s Number 1 News Channel :The AAJ TAK

The Red Colour , The Cartoons , The Animations , The Music , The Dynamics of the Presentation

It all was new for New Delhi;

Breaking the  traditional way of thinking;

He created a non tradsitional way of thinking.

 

Years Later:

Uday Shankar saw the traditionalism of  Fiction Television Content ,

He broke it;

Speaking in a new voice ,

He said - and then said the Star India :Rishta Wahi Soch Nayi!!!!

He is not a different person only today;

He was , even then;

He cultivated his attitude to raise the voice, years ago!!!

A lesson for all Young Professionals !!!

 

EFFECT 5 / DON’T GIVE UP!!!



Aaj Tak Office
New Delhi

Uday Shankar was saying , “ You know,I strongly feel that the stories of News have got more potential than the stories of fiction,But here in our newsrooms,People don’t know how to tell those stories to the News audience!!!”

Star News Office

Mumbai

Sitting in his Mahaluxmi office,Uday Shankar was saying, “You know,We could not do this in Delhi,Do it now.”

 We created a News Show taking elements from the science of story telling in the fiction world;

Going one step ahead;

He said, “Can you take up a half an hour News Slot and produce it!!! I want to see how It will shape up with the approach of entertainment world!!”

The idea was to import the following things into News: Relatibility,Connect,Engagement.

He was still following the same thought!!!!

 

Months  Later :

He is in the mid of the science of story telling at Star India;

He is still following the same thought;

He is not a different person only today;

He was , even then;

He cultivated his attitude of not giving up , years ago!!!

Don’t Give Up!!!!

A lesson for all Young Professionals !!!

 

EFFECT 6 / REALISE THE TRUTH!!!



Gandhi  was jailed in Agha Khan Palace in Pune;

Dr Sushila Nayar used to write his acts,activities and sayings in the daily diary;

One day she forgot to note it down;

Gandhi promptly said; “Don’t forget to write,These diaries will get published one day in the future and the whole world will read them.”

He was knowing it;

This KNOWING does not come to everyone;

 

Uday Shankar was sitting in the same Mahaluxmi office,But in a different room,With a different responsibility;

He had become the head of Star India;

What he said at that moment,I could never forget;

He said, “ Suddenly I have got enormous power in this new role.I can bring in a great change using this power,But I can damage also if I go wrong!!!”

WOW!!!!!

He was knowing that!!!

This KNOWING does not come to everyone;

 

 NOWADAYS :

Uday Shankar is surrounded by hundreds of things;

Uday Shankar is being followed by thousands of people;

He still knows;

“It is , What it is!!!!”

He is not a different person only today;

He was , even then;

He cultivated his attitude of realising the truth , years ago!!!

A lesson for all Young Professionals !!!

 

Thank you Uday Shankar;

For becoming an inspiration for all young professionals!!!

You have done so much for the Indian Television;

Indian Television is still greedy;

We want more from you;

Please create a “Star Idea Lab”;

For innovating and working on your newer ideas;

An institutionalised form of your search for the new , for the more;

It will be a gift to the industry;

 

We are sure;

That the Television Industry will wait for the gift!!!!!

 

Afterall;

Such is the impact of;

The Uday Shankar Effect!!!!!!!