Short stories are that form of popular literature which challenges the writer to succinctly and completely narrate what he/she would take a few hundred pages to say. Likewise, short films and television anthology shows have a tremendous audience appeal. I am very partial to that genre, hence put a collection of stand alone episodes in front of me I would head for them first. It?s not that the novel and its electronic counterpart the drama series are not appealing. They are. But the preferred option has already been stated.

On a holiday to Canada and Hong Kong, I was delighted with the in-flight channel which showed short films mostly by film school students and some were packaged as an anthology for marketing to TV Channels.

Indian television has neglected anthology shows, in the nascent years, shows like Katha Sagar, were popular as 13 or 26 episode packages. They were a wealth of short stories indigenous as well as gems by international authors. Unfortunately, the full fledged drama series took over. Though anthology filmmaking is an emerging genre and our filmmakers have dabbled in it, why are television?s creative team shying away?

 

Zindagi?s Kitni Girhain Baki Hain is a welcome addition to the foundling channel?s bouquet of shows. Its short format could well be an attraction to a chronic channel scanner. Who may have casually surfed into Zindagi and if he/she is lucky enough with Kitni Girhain Baki Hain being telecast, she/he wouldn?t have a problem following the action as within 40 minutes the story?s told and done with. Such shows offer stupendous variety of content and location, from sensitive romantic narrative, to some traumatic, or sad stories. Each of these stories is akin to a short film. No wonder, the new global challenge for filmmakers is the short film with dedicated festivals for this genre.

Kitni Girhain Baki Hain is an assortment of short stories, some love stories, on real life situations. An award winning show from Pakistan, it features a bunch of fine actors who have contributed largely to the impact of each story. Each episode is marked by its effective pacing, direction and a narrative which leaves a lasting impression. The stories swings with emotions and variety, but what is consistent is the overall authenticity, as they are stories culled from real life and situations. Women are the inspiration; and the pivot. At the same time the anthology picks stories of loneliness right out of our lives, like an elderly mother who lives alone, spends her days waiting for that one phone call from her son, she could well fall prey to a smart youngster with an agenda.

Kirron Kher, the only Indian face on Zindagi, is the sutradhar who weaves a bond between the Indian viewers and the narrative from Pakistan. Each story has a realness about it, and we forget a forced happily-ever-after ending. The characters are authentic people, who aren?t daubed with heavy makeup, bling and in-your-face looks. The narrative usually revolves round no more than three to four characters at the maximum. The actors are in themselves a USP with their exquisite performances. One of the finest stories I have seen in the last few days is Main Guneghar Hoon. A night of pleasure with the house maid, costs a man his family warmth. The young child actor was superlative. High standards of performances, gems for scripts and settings which are way beyond plywood sets are the bar set by Kitni Girhain Baki Hain. Imtihaan is such a wonderful story of two sisters, one of whom is a paraplegic, who makes friends with an unknown caller, naturally the other sister is overly protective of her, and warns her about the phone friend. The caller wants to meet her. The sister tests him and shows him up for the cad he is. In Iddat, a young bride?s life is overshadowed by suspicion and shattered by tragedy.

Stories in Kitni Girhain Baaki Hain have a homespun feel, they could well be happening in our own cities and towns. They are intrinsically stories about women and their traumas and the strength that brings them through. So to label the show as stories from Pakistan would be incorrect, only the location is Karachi, Lahore, etc. the stories are ours. What is paramount is the approach and treatment ? essentially a crisp narrative. But Kitni Girhain Baaki Hain?s USP is its universality. Who knows how many women across India must be saying: This is my story.