Honge Juda na Hum rulling young hearts

Presenting surprise packages in a different way is not new to tellyland. One thing's obvious on the small screen — telly's ability to grasp the pulse of the audience on the look out for more. When it comes to audience saying 'yeh dil maange more', telly surely delivers a googly in terms of storyline packaged with oomph and chutzpah. The end result —shows that revolve around stories of love, relationship in an urban backdrop. 
While weaving love stories in an urban landscape is not completely new, the way urban stories are making a comeback on the small screen is a trend to watch out for. The task to break the mould is not as simple as it sounds. Producer Ravi Adhikari says, "People have started accepting urban romances because the audience wants something new. Pitching for such storylines to channel gets us positive response. The exposure to international shows has made the audience more aware, and it has become imperative to come up with new storylines for the audience."



With producers gearing up to tread different path, romance as a genre is definitely grabbing eyeballs. The urban set up not only gives a contemporary touch, but also peps up the ambience. Indeed, the diamante gets more shimmer on a candle lit dinner date than in the kitchen. For actors, being part of something different offers more creative satisfaction and also a scope to relate to the contemporary. Actor Kritika Kamra says, "I wanted to do something that I can relate to and would be close to something I'd like to watch on TV. Shows like Kitani Mohabbat Hai and Kuch Toh Log Kahenge have given me a youth audience with an international reach. Urban stories on television are contemporary and audiences connect to them."

The industry too seems to share the same perspective. Doris Dey, fiction head of a top production house known for its cutting edge entertainment formats, says, "Urban romance as a genre is promising and is not tapped to the fullest. There is a lot that one can explore through this genre and if presented in a contemporary manner it has the potential to achieve an instant connect with the masses, case in point being shows like Bade Achche Laggte Hain, Teri Meri Love stories, etc." For producer Rajan Shahi, it's a matter of presenting a healthy programming mix which works well for all in the supply chain. "The unique part of TV is that there's no set formula. It has been a field which has witnessed game changers. It's important is to offer shows with a universal appeal — neither too rural nor too urban. It's good to see a heroine who is not in a pallu-pooja mould and ready to take on the world and face the trials and tribulations in life, love stories offer that option."

Kunwar Amarjeet Singh who plays the lead in Dil Dosti Dance says, "It feels great to be a part of a new genre. As an actor I am glad I am doing a show which caters to viewers of urban India as well."

As different love stories add up to the creative repertoire of the telly town, the audience can expect some more mush fest.