Framing the perfect shot: Indian television steps outside Mumbai

NEW DELHI - With characters and storlylines not confined to metropolitan India anymore, television production houses are moving out of Mumbai to shoot in states like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan to keep the shows’ regional flavour alive.

The whole idea behind shooting at the places where the story is based is to add to the authencity to the story, says Zee TV’s Sukesh Motwane.

“Its important for us that whatever we create it has to be believeable. So, if a story is set in Rajasthan or in UP, it is important that we make people aware of its customs, traditions so that they can relate to it and get its feel. Shooting in places where the story is based makes it more authentic and believable,” Motwane told IANS.

Zee TV’s “12/24 Karol Bagh” was the first television serial that was completely shot in Delhi. It narrated the story a of middle-class family residing in Karol Bagh.

Ninety-five percent of the manpower was from Delhi, reveals Sudhir Sharma of Sunshine Productions, the producer of the show.

“Our approach was just to expand the industry. People are bored seeing the same locations, so we thought why not go out of Mumbai,” he said.

“Initially, it was difficult as you don’t find trained workers as in Mumbai but later everything fell into place. It felt good that we are generating a new breed of people here,” he added.

Many Zee TV shows follow this pattern.

Some portions of “Sanjog Se Bani Sangini”, for example, have been shot in Haridwar and Pataudi. “Ram Milayi Jodi” has been shot in Delhi, “Yahan Main Ghar Ghar Kheli” has been shot in Orcha in Madhya Pradesh, “Bhagowali” has been shot in Patna while “Mera Naam Karegi Roshan” has been filmed in Ayodhya.

SAB TV’s executive vice president and business head Anooj Kapoor said shooting in places outside Mumbai has become easier and the equipment too is easily available now.

“People in films have been shooting all over India. Now, the television industry too has progressed. You can put a certain cost of production additionally, but that is easily borne by the channel. So that’s not a problem,” he added.

It was an attempt to do justice to the concept of the show, he added.

Imagine TV’s “Gunaaho Ka Devta” has been shot in Jodhpur and “Jamunia”, which went off air in June, was shot in Chhattisgarh.

Star Plus’ new show “Gulaal”, which tells the story of a girl of the same name, is set against the backdrop of Kutch district in Gujarat and has been shot in Kutch, Jaipur and Mumbai.

“Chand Chupa Badal Mein”, that revolves around a girl called Nivedita from Shimla, has been shot in Himachal Pradesh.

“It an interesting thing. The show we create is for the national audience and what better way to explore cultures by basing a story on a different culture,” said Danish Khan, vice president of Sony TV.

Sony TV’s “Tera Mujhse Hai Pehle Ka Nata Koi” has been shot in Manali as well as in Mumbai.

“Most of people do a mix of outdoor and indoor shoots. They do a little bit of shooting in the particular place in which the story is based and lot of interiors get shot in Mumbai. So, from the technical point of view, its viable,” he added.