“We have an expression that when a show is running out of original stories, the producers will make a “jump the shark” episode, when something completely stupid and unrealistic gets put into the story to try and attract viewers back.  It’s a last, desperate attempt to save a sinking show,” averred  Joyce Thierry Llewellyn, a Canadian Screenwriter, Story Editor, script analyst, and a senior instructor at the Vancouver Film School in their “Writing for Film & Television” Programme. I imagined she was alluding to Ekta Kapoor’s Bade Achhe Lagte Hain, which is like a centipede with more that 70 broken legs. Well that’s what BALH has been looking like the last few months – a teetering-tottering centipede. 

Ekta Kapoor’s known to jump the shark many times earlier in BALH and other shows too. She simply loves to indulge in script jerks. It paid off in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, when Mihir Virani was bumped off. Audiences wanted him back so Ekta Brought him back to life, with another actor altogether, and the show went on with many more life-inducing tamashas till it was stopped hurriedly eight years and 1833 episodes later. She did likewise with Kahani Ghar Ghar Ki which also showed for eight years and 1661 episodes.  But clearly, BALH is not going any where beyond the three years and   approximately 600 episode mark. The channel is believed to have warned the producer that the ratings weren’t respectable enough and they wanted to pull it off air by May end. 

 

The recent few weeks have shown BALH heading for some kind of a wrap. Instead of a joyous homecoming and ending, Ekta seems to have opted for a funereal ending. Already Sammy has been shot dead. Buzz is that Ram Kapoor too dies. Forensic expertise has been dispensed with by Ekta’s script team.  Ram Kapoor is behind bars for the crime, just because the gun was his, so what if he didn’t fire the shot. Balaji’s serials are not known for coherence and logic. If this plot had been explored months before, with forensic findings and a trial, it could have taken a stunning turn and brought back the eyeballs.  

Of course, there are still more episodes to come. How are the writers going to prove Ram Kapoor innocent? Remains to be seen. The actor Ram Kapoor is in a hurry to get off the boat, as he has his film commitments. He has made strong tracks into films and had made his presence felt. Sure recognition came first on the small screen. He had given enough time to Ekta Kapoor to work his character out of the plot. Will he be incarcerated for life, and let the show move on; much the same way they had Priya meet with an accident and remain in a coma for seven years. Or simply kill him off. Sakshi Tanwar too is purported to join the cast of Life OK’s Devon Ke Dev Mahadev. Given that Devon Ke Dev Mahadev is a hugely popular show,   Sakshi wouldn’t pass it up.

By the way, are the writers deliberately pushing Phi’s life taking misdemeanor   under the rug? I am  alluding to the track when Priya is informed that Varun has hung himself in police custody. Pihu has admitted to falsifying against him and Priya is driving her to the police, when the accident happens. When Priya recovers from her coma, and regains her memory surely she must have remembered Pihu’s false statement   which resulted in wrongful death. If integrity and honesty were her strengths how did she allow this one slip. How could the creative team and writers allow this unpardonable oversight? What signals are we sending the viewers: it’s alright to wrongly implicate a person, let him die and conveniently move on with Sammy?

There are so many loose strands – Sid, Juhi and Mamaji’s dipping their hands into Ram’s account; what part did Sammy play in it? Juhi’s conniving ways with Priya’s  daughters. During  the coming few weeks Pandora’s Box will work overtime. What could have been pivotal to  BALH’s many tracks and lent a finesse to it, is now being botched up in a race to the finish.

If BALH recedes into oblivion, Ekta Kapoor has only herself to blame. She had two stalwart actors — Sakshi Tanwar and Ram Kapoor – each brought their fan following to the 10.30 pm slot on Sony. She had an unusual romance – two middle-aged strong willed successful  people who finally turn their friendship into love.

Wouldn’t  a season break have helped BALH survive?  Isn’t it time Indian television too adopts a season strategy? It has been done before with Na Bole Tum Na Maine Kuch Kaha.  Will other channels consider it?  In the meantime, it’s  Curtains for BALH!