Tanvi Trivedi (BOMBAY TIMES; May 20, 2020)

Ramayan and Mahabharat had witnessed unprecedented popularity when they were first aired on Doordarshan in the 80s. The situation was no different when their reruns were aired recently on the national channel during the lockdown. In fact, these shows have now started airing on satellite channels as well.

And, it’s not just Ramayan and Mahabharat. Gauging the audience’s response, many channels have juggled their programming over the last two months to give prominence to mythological shows like Jai Shri Krishna, Vighnaharta Ganesh, Sankatmochan Mahabali Hanuman, Devon Ke Dev Mahadev and Radha Krishna. In fact, channels even stopped airing reruns of some of their family dramas, comedy shows and some reality shows, too. So, what is it that makes the mythological genre the most-watched in these times?

PEOPLE WATCH THESE SHOWS AND TAKE AWAY SOMETHING MEANINGFUL FROM IT EVERYTIME: TV CHANNELS
According to Manisha Sharma, Chief Content Officer of a channel, “Mythological shows have laid the foundation of our television ecosystem and continue to hold prominence in our daily lives. The shows provide a wide scope in terms of the narrative, characters and entertaining plots that strike a chord with the audience. People find immense value in epics as they provide comfort and calmness. In these times, when we are seeking relief and hope, they are proving to be a perfect reminder of the golden times and guiding light for how we wish to lead life from here on. The combination of purpose, nostalgia and the great narrative keeps bringing people back to watch these shows and take away something meaningful from it every time.”

Marketing head of another channel, Arpit Macchar, adds, “Mythological content appeals to viewers very strongly as they connect with these shows at a personal level. Historically, mythological shows, and especially Ramayan has always had a great appeal. We started a rerun of Ramayan (the show that was made in 2008) during the lockdown and soon extended it to one hour a day because of the viewership. Within the first week itself, the slot grew by 45% indicating people’s interest and enthusiasm.”

THESE SHOWS ARE LIKE A CRUTCH THAT PEOPLE CAN HOLD ON TO: PSYCHOLOGISTS
Psychologists, too, agree on the calming effect of these shows. Clinical psychologist Varkha Chulani says, “People have always depended on mythology and various aspects of religion to calm their nerves. This is a time of unprecedented uncertainty, and emotional management is sought in different ways. So, you will see people praying harder than they must have ever done. These shows ask you to trust a higher power. So, there is an element of hope in mythology, and everybody now is clinging to the hope that life will change sooner rather than later. It’s like a crutch that people can hold on to.”

VIEWERS ARE IN NO MOOD TO WATCH SHOWS FOCUSSING ON KITCHEN POLITICS OR UNNECESSARY FIGHTS
Viewers feel that mythological shows give them hope during these trying times. Reena Thakur, a 28-year-old banker, said, “Over the past two months, there has been a change in what we have been viewing on TV. My family is hooked to mythological shows. The technical effects may not be up to date, but that doesn’t matter. Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, most viewers don’t want to watch kitchen politics on daily soaps and unnecessary fights on reality shows.”

For some, these shows are a way to help their children connect with their roots. Sumalini Salian, a homemaker, said, “Earlier, my 10-year-old son knew only Arjun, Bhishm and Bheem from Mahabharat. Now, he knows the entire epics of Ramayan and Mahabharat. Kids these days are into video games and cartoons, so the reruns have helped them understand their roots.”