Literature has given us a number of characters who would work brilliantly on a TV show but few very makers are courageous enough to translate a novel into a daily soap. However, in recent times, we have seen some novels finding their way on TV. Here is a lowdown on the trend.
ONGOING SHOWS
Show: Kumkum Bhagya
Book: Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
One of the top-ranking shows on TV, Kumkum Bhagya, the story of two sisters, Pragya (Sriti Jha) and Bulbul (Mrunal Thakur) is loosely based on Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility. Ekta Kapoor loved the film and thought of making a TV show based on it. After many script changes, she finally approved a story, which matched her vision. Sense and Sensibility tells the tale of two sisters, Elinor and Marianne who leave home and relocated to a new place and experience romance and heartbreak.
Show: Meri Aashiqui Tumse Hi
Book: Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
The initial premise of the soap of a servant (Ranveer) being in love with the master’s daughter (Ishaani) matches Bronte’s classic where the dark brooding Heathcliff is crazy about Catherine Earnshaw. While the happening on the serial have not followed the original story, Shakti Arora and Radhika Madan’s sizzling chemistry has done justice to the passionate characters of the novel’s lead protagonists.
Show: Lajwanti
Book: Lajwanti by Rajinder Singh Bedi
One of the best known novels set in the era of India’s Partition, Lajwanti tells the story of a young couple who have to bear the trials and tribulations of the holocaust. It has been made into a serial with Sid Makkar (Sunder Lal) and Lajo (Ankita Sharma) in the lead. It is a finite series and a true adaptation of the novel, which has been done by Ila Bedi Dutta.
Show: Yeh Hain Mohabbatein
Book: Custody by Manju Kapur
The loving bond between Dr Ishita Iyer (Divyanka Tripathi) and Ruhi (Ruhanika Dhawan) won over not only Raman Bhalla (Karan Patel) but a legion of fans. The serial is based on Kapur’s fifth novel, Custody and talks about a heartbreak that a family endures after the divorce between Raman and his first film, Shagun and how they rebuild relationships after Raman falls for Ishita, who can’t live away from Ruhi.
RECENTLY FINISHED SHOWS
Show: Ek Tha Chandar Ek Thi Sudha
Novel: Gunahon Ka Devta by Dharamvir Bharati
Chandar (Rahil Azam) and Sudha (Umang Jain) are friends in newly independent India. However, Chandar is unable to express his love to Sudha and this leads her to a life of misery. The book was made into a TV series by filmmaker Ashwini Dhir. Dharamvir Bharati’s iconic novel captured love in an idealistic India with a rare sensitivity.
Show: Dilli Wali Thakur Gurls
Novel: Those Pricey Thakur Girls by Anuja Chauhan
The story spoke about the five daughters of Justice LN Thakur. All of them have distinct personalities and are a cause of worry for their parents. On the show, it was the love story between Dabbu (Sukirti Khandpal) and Dylan Singh Shekhawat (Aamir Ali) that caught the audience’s attention. It would up in October.
BLAST FROM THE PAST
Show: Hasratein
Book: Adhantari by Late Jaywant Dalvi
One of the most radical shows of its time, Hasratein was based on the Adhantari penned by late author Jaywant Dalvi. It told the story of Saavi who leaves her husband to marry her boss, KT. The terrific chemistry between Saavi (Seema Kapoor/Shefali Shah) and KT (Harsh Chhaya) made it the talk of the town. The issues of extramarital affair, marital discord and incompatibility was discussed on the show.
