“There is a lot of money in Television and writers make a lot!” revealed Asvini Yardi, in a high impact session with 300 students at Whistling Woods International in Film City, Mumbai.
The dynamic Ashvini whose earlier association of nearly 14 years with the Zee Network, is almost synonymous with its achievements, has notched up one of the biggest success stories in Indian Television with Colours, a General Entertainment Channel (GEC) of Viacom18, a joint venture in India that has set a scorching pace since inception in July 2008.
For the students training to be filmmakers, it was a revelation to see the presentation on the potential in television, “the largest component of entertainment space” in India which has seen a growth in cable and satellite homes to about 80 million. Ashwini pointed out to the success of a “strategic time-table with issue based programmes with an emphasis on the smaller towns in certain slots”. Colors will soon see the setting up of an Ideation Team and new shows coming up, based on social issues. “It is up to you to make changes” said Ashvini as she invited “newer, fresher talent” from the students.
They will be in great company with many from the world of cinema making their foray on what perhaps can no longer be called the small screen. The name of Shah Rukh Khan comes to mind, for one, with his avowed aim: “ I will try to bring cinematic value to television”