Thank u Telly Tadka for this opportunity to Voice our views on the show we have come to love and adore – Director Kut’s Kuch toh Log Kahenge (KTLK) airing on Sony @8pm Mon-Fri…. !!

KTLK —- A Classic lost in Adaptation??

When most of the viewers saw the first promo of KTLK on SONY where Dr. Nidhi is waiting for Dr. Ashutosh to cut her Birthday cake they thought this is one show which they are not going to miss for the life of it. The title track ‘Saiyaan Naino ki bhasha Samjhe na’ had all of us humming & it soon made it to our mobile ringtones! When the video of the title song & subsequent promos came across it just drove many like us crazy. The fact that prominent names – Mohnish Bahl and Kritika Kamra were cast in the lead role added to the curiosity level of the audiences.

The fact that the show is the official adaptation of the Classic Pakistani Drama Dhoop Kinare —made everyone feel that here is a refreshing story which would be very different from the ‘run of the mill’ love stories, with the lead tripping and falling and the shirtless hero holding her, and the ‘regressive’ Saas bahu shows, where the lead actress has either to cry or stand shaking.  The theme of two characters with a big age gap falling in love had therefore created the required buzz.

As the first episode was aired, audiences were introduced to the two distinctly different and complete opposite personalities of our Leads – Ashutosh, the stern, reserved, morose and sulking yet unlikely HERO who stood lamenting the loss of his identity aka his Baba ka Makaan & Nidhi, the bubbly, lively, vivacious and vibrant yet unsure HEROINE who was busy praying to Lord Hanuman to flunk her in the Medical Exams. Subsequently, audiences watched AshNi’s (Ashutosh+Nidhi) first meeting at the accident spot, which became the starting point of what seemed to be one of the most unique and unforgettable love story on the small screen. The uncanny and SIZZLING chemistry of Mohnish and Kritika came as a complete surprise to the audience and swept everyone off their feet. No wonder then that they feature in practically every list of TOP 10 Couples of 2011. As for the show, the initial episodes though seemingly ‘Fast paced’ when compared to the drag-fests seen in several shows on air, made the audiences feel warm given how it had the right amount of professional and personal mix. Scenes of Ashutosh’s exasperation with Nidhi’s mischief (seeing her playing catch me if you can), Nidhi buzzing in and around Ashu (the famous COAT scene/ the Wedding/ the daily Home visits) or his sheer delight at Nidhi’s surprises ( the Adrak Chai/ the Methi Muthiyas/ Curtains) or Ashu’s genuine happiness seeing Nidhi’s concern (cancelling her Europe Trip to tend to him/ chiding him for not being careful and injuring himself) left audiences asking for more. The joy of seeing the erstwhile serious and sulking Ashu SMILE in Nidhi’s company and his genuine happiness made many start believe in the miracle called LOVE.

But if only Life could be that simple! As the creature called TRP started rearing its ugly head, the GOODNESS and LIGHT HEARTEDNESS of the show started to fall prey. Week on Week, the TRPs seemed to be struggling and at one point dropped to below 1. With a great star cast, a big production house and a prominent GEC channel backing it, desperate measures needed to be taken. No wonder then that a TRP grabbing ‘SHADI’ sequence was brought in. However, the Creatives felt that much more needed to be done to add the extra Tadka to this Telly-Story and they ended up not just fast-forwarding but almost instantly making the Leads FALL in LOVE. If that was not enough, what came next seemed to be the icing on the MESS as the creatives thought it fit to introduce a SEPARATION track by getting Nidhi fired for the SILLIEST of reason and that too by Ashutosh.

Audiences (atleast the ones that have access to internet) raised a hue and cry over this butchering of Ashutosh’s character and Creatives thought it fit to placate them with the entry of ‘LOVE-Guru’ Rohan and Armaan. The process of AshNi’s ‘Falling in LOVE’ ‘Confessing’ and ‘Evolving/Maturing’—- ideally expected to be a ‘COUPLE’ process ended up becoming a ‘GROUP’ process with each of the Leads heavily depending on their respective Love Gurus – Nidhi-Rohan and Ashu-Armaan to Lead them to each other. Confession of Love tracks have ideally been TRP troopers. In KTLK the setting of a Dargah, the sudden meeting of the Leads, the eyelocks, the background music all seemed to be in place with the Leads looking like a heavenly ‘made for each other’ couple. But somewhere, something was lacking. A scene of Confession could be made unforgettable but in KTLK it seemed too SIMPLE and also too Soon. No wonder then that it could manage to clock only the second highest TRPs till date from the date of the launch of the show. The follow through to such an important moment was at best forgettable with the Leads being shot in SEPARATE FRAMES for an entire Week in crucial sequences (which could add to the TRPs) where they go for their First Drive / First Date as a COUPLE!

What is making practically all the fans of the show (active on Facebook)/ Telly Tadka and other online forums pull their hair in frustration is the sudden hesitation or reservation of the creatives to show the Lead Couple AshNi in ONE SINGLE FRAME! Not only that the unrealistic portrayal of Doctors / Professionals-Bankers, Lawyers/ IIM Graduates sitting all day eating noodles or sleeping/ Qualified Doctors lack of interest in their profession has becomes an absolute eyesore. Also, it is a common feeling that AshNi romantic tracks are rushed while separation tracks seem to be getting stretched. For instance this week itself a positive track of AshNi celebrating New Year together was thwarted with a sudden and dramatic twist of Nidhi’s Baba’s bankruptcy/ heart-attack and house issues. Literally everyone is at the edge of their seats wondering what next? Ashutosh’s pessimistic reactions in the situation are only adding fuel to the fire and depression to the frustration of the audiences who cant seem to understand why all hell breaks loose whenever AshNi try to come close. No wonder then that audiences have started to realise that slowly but surely Creatives of the Show have started to kill the core essence of this ONCE — feel good, light hearted LOVE STORY with excessive Negativity and unnecessary Side Characters!

In this regard, in all humility we request the CVs to take a moment and ponder on a few pointers which will not only ensure higher TRPs but ensure the ‘feel good’ ‘unique’ elements of the KTLK thrive and blossom:

Aarathi: KTLK is a romantic love story which means Romance should be shown between the leads in single frames. A love story is watched by viewers with the anticipation of seeing the leads romancing, spending time with each other, understanding one another but here we didnt get even a single such scene. When a show has actors like Mohnish & Kritika who share a rocking chemistry it becomes imperative to have them in maximum scenes together. The CVs have not only brought in innumerable illogical twists but have suddenly gotten shy to show the Leads in one frame! Request the CVs to have some reasonable & meaningful scenes with Ashni in single frame coming to each other’s aid. Show us a matured understanding Ashutosh helping Nidhi & her father coming out of their financial crisis rather than turning him into an angry man without the power of reasoning and ancillary characters becoming Saint trying to bail out the damsel in distress. Let the evil Mallika & her schemes be defeated by the power of Ashni’s love & understanding. Make this show a little light, romantic, humorous & less of negativity & see the viewers & trp increasing.

Mehwish: The story of KTLK has become highly illogical and no offense but it never needed to be so complicated. Every single Dhoop Kinare track has been butchered, specially the character of Ashutosh which is shown as self absorbed and narrow minded!  Abhi bhi waqt hai to save this show by bringing the leads together as often as possible in several romantic sequences and not playing hoaxes on the fans by getting Ashu-Nidhi all dressed up only to encounter some hurdle instead of each other what a joke!!! Get Nidhi back to Kotnis and get Mallika married off. Start the love story again and give maximum scenes to Mohnish & Kritika together. Show us what’s been missing the hospital romance & drama. Give us what Dhoop Kinare did and more. Please bring positivity in the show. Fans need a relief from their daily life not this burdensome show with negativity, horrid close-ups, bad body doubles and NO romance. Just teasing the fans all the time wont do any good. We are not fools. We have other options!!!

Ramona: When the show started it appeared to be a scene by scene copy of the original though the characters are equally well enacted by Kritika Kamra and Mohnish Bahl. The duo seemed to have an amazing chemistry which is difficult to describe in words. However in the second week of the show TRP’s unfortunately dropped a bit. This led to immediate pressing of the panic button by KTLK creatives who set forth to introduce all types of illogical tack and sequences to garner ratings. Lately we found after the start of the 45 minute episode the number of scenes of the leads together dramatically declined and the usage of body doubles crept in slowly destroying the USP of this show aka AshNi. The character of the leading man once so endearing and admirable has been completely massacred by the CV’s for the reasons best known to them. It is still not too late and we have hope that things can be corrected and the show restored to its former glory.

Tanushree: ‘Naam bade aur darshan chote’ is probably the best tagline I can think of at the moment for the show! A classic show to lead, a team of suave and charming actors, a team of imaginative creators and the result?? Utter Mess!! Why oh Why CVs??? Why this harakiri?? You had a strong content why could you not stick to your intent?? The initial pacing of the episodes made many wonder the need for rushing up the core theme of the show ‘the love story’. And seeing the way the Creatives are dragging separation tracks and twisting the plots while butchering the characters it makes me wonder WHY??? What’s the Rush?? TRPs while important for survival cannot be the sole reason for driving a show till the content works!! For the content to work along with the regular Tadka of drama / histrionics/ face offs u need LOGIC! Shows launched on the same channel later than KTLK have all zoomed ahead not because they are negative but because they are consistent, well made, logical and gripping! Please CVs wake up before its too late! You have a rocking leading pair. Milk them for all. You have to show romance, drama, passion, tears et all but in equal measure and with consistency! Trust me it will work!! Just keep the faith!

Fan Authors: Aarathi / Mehwish / Ramona / Tanushree

Disclaimer: The article is written by the fans of the show and posted by Telly Tadka under the voice of the audience segment. Telly Tadka holds no responsibility for the opinions voiced in the article.