Is Pratyusha Banerjee’s replacement the reason behind Balika Vadhu’s dipping TRPs?
Shock…shock…shock…was what the television fraternity and viewers felt when the news of Pratyusha Banerjee quitting Colors’ Balika Vadhu (Sphere Origins) hit the airwaves.
Pratyusha enacted the role of Anandi beautifully and took the show to a level from where it could see nothing else but soaring TRPs and love of fans.
Now, her throwing in the towel meant bringing in a replacement, which apparently saw in Toral Rasputra. Many wondered if she was the right choice to play Anandi, but as they say, on having resolve one can even carve a road through a mountain.
But there is a glitch…
Since Pratyusha’s exit the show’s ratings have seen a dip.
Toral made her entry as Anandi on 4 March (2013) when the rating of the show was 4.4 TVR. A week after that the number slumped to 4.3 TVR. But week 11’s ratings saw a major dip with Balika Vadhu garnering mere 3.6 TVR. It further slumped to 3.5 on week 12 of TAM ratings.
So does it mean that viewers are finding it difficult to accept Toral as the new Anandi?
To clear the clouds of doubt we got in touch with producer Sunjoy Wadhwa who stated, “TRPs across the board have fallen hence, it’s not just about Balika Vadhu. In fact, in the week Toral entered the show, TRPs remained the same. And even now the viewership is the highest in the scenes where Anandi is visible. So, I do not see a drastic change.”
“There could be a certain adjusting factor with few of Balika Vadhu’s viewers. But had they not accepted the new actor the TRPs would have fallen drastically which has not been the case,” said the producer.
When asked if he likes Toral’s work, he averred, “Yes, she is very professional and a hard working artist. But yes, there is a bit of natural jerk which is something we experienced even when Pratyusha came in after Avika (Gor) left.”
He also went on to add, “We have created a brand value and that’s what’s important at the end of the day. The TRPs can fall and rise but Balika Vadhu will be remembered in history, it is an iconic show.”
We are sure it is….
Next we called up Pratyusha Banerjee and she shared, “I think the audience will take some time to adjust with the new girl.”
When asked if the TRPs had dipped even when she joined the show post Avika left, she promptly replied, “I never had to face such an issue. The starting ratings were 6.8. In fact, even during my stay in Balika I never went through rating issues, touchwood.”
Of course, when we are talking about Toral, we had to get her version too. Here’s what she said: “I don’t know what to say as TRPs are not in my hand. All of us are working very hard and as far as the numbers are concerned, there hasn’t been a drastic change; but yes, we need to give the audience sometime to adjust to the change.”
When asked if she had certain expectations as far as TRPs were concerned she said, “I wasn’t expecting anything. In fact, I don’t think much about TRPs.”
Well, we just hope that viewers accept Toral as Anandi and a beautiful show like Balika Vadhu keeps entertaining and educating masses for years to come.
8 Comments
anamika
April 05, 10:45the serial is simply dragging with a same scene of vidhayi for more than 3 days,if they are lacking the story then why they can’t stop this show & start something new..
simi
April 02, 12:44there r 2 reasons 4 low trps.one is Toral is unsuitable for anandi’s character.Everybody must have noticed how shiv’s charishma has been reduced becoz of poor chemistry between the two.second is the story has reached its natural end and hence it is keeping repeating.No angle in the storyline is left unexplored.so sorry balika vadhu,its bye bye time.
manu
April 05, 07:48I agree!
Nane
April 05, 10:37I agree!
manu
April 02, 11:22yes! Toral cnt replace Pratyusha..
I stopped watching BB aftr Pratyusha left… n this is the case wid all my family members n friends too.. It’s not like no one else can portray the character of Anandi other than Pratyusha, but Toral just doesnt fit the role of Anandi we are used to watching…! I’hv been a fan of Toral in Dhoom machao Dhoom.. But, as Anandi I just cant accept her n same is the case wid many people I know!
mathi rao
April 02, 12:10Regardless of falling TRPs, change of Anandi was welcome. This Anandi needed to be more mature, not just lovable and Toral is just that. The reason for the serial to be less attractive is that the story is hitting a dead end and dragging. If the narration is not tight, it tends to bore the audience. I myself see the Monday episode and leave the rest because I know where the Saturday episode will end as far as the story goes.
Nane
April 05, 10:38i agree!
Nane
April 05, 10:41I agree Manu!