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H
P Ravindra
‘DD
is conducive’
 “Catching
the viewers at 6 p.m. through a mega television serial on Bangalore
Doordarshan is a huge challenge,” says producer-director of
Banna HP Ravindra. A quick chat with the first time producer director
Ravindra:
Is it difficult to reach viewers through Doordarshan with stiff
competition from private satellite channels?
I
feel Doordarshan is more conducive. In every nook and corner of
Karnataka Doordarshan is very popular. The penetration of DD in
cities might be bad, but we have major chunk of viewers in rural
areas and major cities of the Karnataka State.
Are
you happy with the time slot on DD?
The 6 p.m. slot is very fresh. So far single episodes were running.
This is for the first time through Banna 6 p.m. on DD Bangalore
is forming a major slot. As for the viewership, I am definite this
television serial would get hold of the audience after 40 episodes.
So far from September 3, 25 episodes have gone on air. The viewers
would have seen the mega serials from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. From 5 p.m.
to 6 p.m. they do home work. By that time the office goers would
have reached home. I am sure that the farmers too will settle down
in front of the TV at 6 p.m. Now what we have to give is an interesting
and known star cast.
You have a big artiste like Ambika.
When I first approached Ambika she was not prepared to do it, but
I was sure the Devayani role in Banna has to be done by Ambika only.
It so happened that her cultural programme abroad got cancelled,
I again approached her and she accepted.
Have you got any response from the marketing of your Banna?
So far nothing has come to support my expenses of Rs. 60,000 per
episode. Doordarshan is giving the banking facility for our FCT
build up. I have an approval for 260 episodes.
What is Banna all about?
This is a family oriented subject. In a joint family the elder brother
is the head. His wife Devayani is respected by other members in
the family. When Devayani loses her husband, the entire colour (meaning
Banna) of the house turns bad. Devayani’s prestige is affected.
She leaves home with just her husband’s photograph. She decides
that she has to reach the dreams of her husband.
—KSV
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