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In 12th year, ‘Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah’ to launch animated version

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Alex King
In 12th year, ‘Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah’ to launch animated version

New Delhi: Having completed 11 years in an industry where most television shows don’t last beyond a year, family comedy Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah is now looking to take the popular brand forward. Show creator and producer Asit Kumarr Modi is planning an animated version of the sitcom that will revolve around main characters and air in Hindi on Sony, the same network that beams the original show. Taarak Mehta is telecast on Sony’s Hindi comedy channel SAB TV which features among the top 10 Hindi general entertainment channels listed by Broadcast Audience Research Council, the TV ratings agency.

“We are also looking at launching a fun streaming and gaming app in the next two to three months with our already identifiable characters. We will start streaming in Hindi and then venture into Gujarati, Marathi and other languages. We want to make the Taarak Mehta brand bigger," said Modi whose film and television production house Neela Tele Films is also known for other fiction shows such as Hum Sab Ekk HainSaarrthiKrishnaben KhakahrawalaHamari Saas LeelaWah! Wah! Kya Baat Hai!Sab Khelo Sab JeetoPyaar Mein Twist, and Meri Biwi Wonderful .

“Most OTT (over-the-top) content today is dark crime, thriller and suspense. But ours will be humour-based," Modi said adding that his company is open to funding and distribution partners for the streaming venture.

“In today’s environment, the more collaborative you are, the better it will be. Plus, our expertise is in content," Modi said.

Launched in 2008, Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah Full Episode has survived the changing dynamics of Indian television besides the onslaught of digital streaming platforms. Modi said the concept of the show came to him from a Gujarati language column he would read as a child in the 1970s and 80s, Duniya Ne Undha Chashma and RK Laxman’s iconic common man cartoons.

“There was a time when on Indian television, everything was about routine saas bahu tactics or extramarital affairs. I had been thinking for a long time that there should be a daily comedy too, and one that would touch people," Modi said.

The challenge, he said, was to bring out everyday stories in a daily show laced with humour, positive and progressive thoughts. There are so many different kinds of stress that people face in their daily lives that the need for positivity and some kind of a stress buster becomes even greater.

“India is such a diverse country, there are so many communities and religions, the idea was that the show should appeal to all and no matter where you go in the country, people should think of it as their story," Modi said. “The lifestyle in Mumbai is different from say, Jaunpur or Rae Bareilly. We have to keep all of India in mind because television is a mass medium. You can’t make a TV show for a handful of people. Everyone watches it, be it one driving a Mercedes or riding an auto."

Over the years, the team has made sure the show remains relevant to changing times. Unlike 2008, now there are entities like WhatsApp, Google Maps and Uber, that Modi makes sure to incorporate into his narratives.

“We’ve never filled the show up with pointless gimmicky drama. The storyline is very simple, whenever you watch it, it’ll seem fresh," Modi said.

 

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