Andhra Pradesh

Meltdown impacts television industry out of the box

Swati.

Happenings on the economic front across the globe seem to have cast its uneasy shadow on the entertainment industry too. Like many others, the television industry also appears to be feeling the impact at different levels and this could turn more obvious in days to come.

After operating with a tight fist for long, ironically the channels only recently have started pumping in more and more budgets for productions in different segment. Sets were going lavish, highly paid actresses from the big screen were roped in and the pitch was just going high, both in terms of production and marketing.

And the overall effect particularly in terms of game shows and packaging was paying rich dividends.

Things, however, could change as focus shifts back to the economics of running a channel.

Few of them do not hesitate in admitting that things are not going to be as cosy as they have been in recent times. And one concedes that the purse strings will be under more scrutiny now.

After splashing colours of different hue on silver screen with ‘Ashta Chamma’, Swati might be making occasional forays to where she actually started the small screen. Basking in the success that her movie scored and the rave reviews she won, the young beauty does not mind appearing on the telly.

But then, she is looking for something different from the routine and also from what she has already worked out. Some new colours and some new hues is what that could tempt her back on the idiot box.

“I do not want the same old formats that I already did,” says Swati.

T. LALITH SINGH

© Copyright 2000 - 2009 The Hindu