Shows that touch the Indian roots work best for television: Sooraj Barjatya

Colors is all geared to launch its new family-oriented show, ‘Ek Shringaar...Swabhimaan’ on December 19, 2016 in the 9.30 pm time slot. To be aired Monday to Friday, the show has been produced by Rajshri Productions and is deeply rooted in Marwari culture. 

‘Ek Shringaar...Swabhimaan’ celebrates the courage and pride of a strong-willed mother and the strengths with which she empowers her young daughters. 

Commenting on the show, Producer Sooraj Barjatya of Rajshri Productions, said, “Today, girls are working in every field, even earning more than their partners. When we are encouraging them to get the education that they are capable of, then shouldn’t we give them the freedom to say ‘no’ to a marriage proposal if they don’t like it? Why does the society then tag her success as ‘abhimaan’ when it is ‘Swabhimaan’! This is a story of a middle class Indian mother, who wants to prove through her daughters, who are IIM and IIT toppers, that today’s girls can be chairperson of companies and also run their household with equal pride and prowess. It’s time we encouraged them!” 

Adgully caught up with Sooraj Barjatya to know more on the making of ‘Ek Shringaar...Swabhimaan’, the key insights behind the show, working with Colors for the first time and more. Excerpts: 

Please share some insights behind ‘Ek Shringaar...Swabhimaan’.
This is one of the most progressive shows. It showcases our point of view on how the society should be – today, girls are doing so well, earning so well, as parents we should encourage them. However, when it comes to marriage, she is asked whether she would do household work, cook and clean and look after guests. There is an issue if she is earning more than the boy. So what does a girl do at such a time? Does she let go of her career or does she sacrifice her dream of marrying into a household where she will be accepted as a working woman and a home maker without guilt and compromise? Our message is that if you look far and deep enough, you will get what you want; that there are such boys, there are such families. 

Rajshri Productions has done around nine shows for television, but this is the first time that your show will be on Colors, which has had shows highlighting social issues like child marriage, female foeticide, etc. Will ‘Ek Shringaar...Swabhimaan’ relate to that type of content?
Yes, truly. Because it is our first show on Colors and we all know that Colors has done such an outstanding job at creating social messages, through this show we want to stress on the fact that Swabhimaan (self-respect) should be worn like Shringar, be it men or women, and be proud of it. So, that’s where Colors and we have collaborated together. 

Rajshri Productions is famous for its films highlighting family bonds and valuing each other. Will the audience get to see the same on ‘Ek Shringaar…Swabhimaan’ or will it have a different track?
We will get to see the same goodness, the same aspirations. At Rajshri, we are determined to show that there is hope. There are good people, there are good values, because otherwise actually why are children being born if there is no hope? So, that is what we are really committed to. 

How are you creating differentiation for the show to compete with long running shows like ‘Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai’ on Star Plus in the same time band?
After doing so many television shows and movies, one realises that it is all about the product, the content. You can put it up against anyone, anytime. If we are able to connect with the audiences, then they will come to watch it. 

We have heard that ‘Ek Shringaar…Swabhimaan’ is a remake of Mahesh Bhatt’s popular show ‘Swabhimaan’, which was aired on Doordarshan in the 90s…
No, it isn’t. Maybe the title resembles, but it isn’t the same show, it is totally different. 

According to you, what kind of content works best in the prime time slot?
I think, the best is something which will connect to Bharat, not just India, per say. Not to the audience that goes to multiplexes, but the real Bharat. Anything that touches the Indian roots and the common Indian men and women, that is what works best for television. 

What is more tough to do television or films?
Both are equal and that’s what I keep telling to all my people in the film fraternity who want to do television, that please treat it just like a film. Give it the same love and affection, because both are equally difficult.