On her birthday, here’s a look at Ekta Kapoor’s work beyond saas bahu sagas

She is often blamed for the decline of Indian television shows from the likes of Buniyaad to sass bahu sagas such as Kyuki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi and the likes. However, given the kind of audience and ratings her shows garner even till date, she shouldn’t be the only one to carry the blame, the audience is an equal culprit. She is in a market, playing to the demands of customers (read audience).

Even two decades after she began her small screen journey, Ekta continues to be the single major force in the TV industry with the latest season of Naagin opening last weekend. Despite all the cringe-worthy, shape-shifting characters and unrealistic motives in her productions, Ekta’s show are topping the charts more often than not. Talking about her choice of subjects for TV shows, Ekta had earlier told Mid Day in an interview, “A lot of rural audience (watches shows like Naagin). But everyday, I hear from city people that they are tripping on Naagin. You never know what is going to work when you make a show. I make a ‘Pyaar Ko Ho Jaane Do’ about two people from different countries falling in love; despite an interesting concept with real people, it doesn’t work. Then I make Naagin, which is an OTT, shamelessly in-your-face show that proudly deals with Indian folklore and it works! I personally believe that we are no one to decide what the audience wants to lap up at any point of time.”

Producer Ekta Kapoor at Kale Hanuman temple in Jaipur. Her latest film, Veere Di Wedding, is setting new records at the box office. (IANS)

Ekta blames her audience just as much for the ‘regressive’ content she produces.

“The day audience demands something else I will make different TV shows. If you check last 10 years TRP’s then you will realise that people don’t want to see any other stories except love stories, saas bahu saga etc. I am more than willing to break free from all these age old topics but I don’t have an option,” Ekta said at the India Today Mind Rocks Youth Summit 2012.

Ekta Kapoor turns 43 on Thursday, we take a closer look at the films she has produced under Balaji Motion Pictures and try to explore her real artistic sense.

Krishna Cottage
One of her earliest productions, Ekta Kapoor ventured into horror in 2004 with the Sohail Khan-starrer. While it was not a huge success at the box office, the film proved Ekta had more to her than over-the-top, bejewelled family dramas.

Mission Istanbul

The Vivek Oberoi starrer may not have impressed critics or audiences but it certainly was yet another big leap in Ekta’s path. The 2008 film traced the story of an organisation Al Zohara, that functioned as a news organisation but actually worked for a terrorist group. Fashioned as a thriller, the film also starred Nikitan Dheer, Shriya Sharan and Zayed Khan.

Love Sex Aur Dhokha
Perhaps the first Ekta production that got critical appreciation, the Dibakar Banerjee directorial talked about honour killing, MMS scandal and sting operation. The 2010 film featured mainly newcomers -- Anshuman Jha, Nushrat Bharucha and Rajkummar Rao.

Shor In The City
Tusshar Kapoor’s 2011 film was a cute one that could not attract the masses to the theatres but certainly impressed critics with most reviewers showering stars in their ratings for the film. Directed by Raj Nidimoru and Krishna DK, the film also featured Radhika Apte, Nikhil Dwivedi and Pitobash Tripathy.

The Dirty Picture

One of the best under Ekta’s banner, the 2011 film not only managed to get rave reviews from the critics but also guaranteed impressive box office numbers. Vidya Balan essayed the lead role which was loosely based on Silk Smitha and Emraan Hashmi and Naseeruddin Shah played pivotal roles in the film. It is considered a path-breaking film for Vidya’s career as well as Bollywood. It is lauded as a woman headlined the project and her onscreen character did not shy away from her own sexuality.

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