Nikkhil Advani’s POW - Bandi Yuddh Ke is mounted like a feature film. At a reported cost of about Rs 35 crore, it’s budgeted like one too. This official remake of the Israeli TV drama Hatufim aka Prisoners of War is one of the most expensive television shows ever produced in India.
Shot in 90 locations with a crew of about 150 members, POW was poised to change the way Indian TV produced and consumed content. But almost a month in, the ratings of the show, which started on 7 November, aren’t exactly encouraging.
According to the Broadcast Audience Research Council’s (BARC) latest figures, the ratings of POW started low and haven’t picked up in three weeks.
POW - Bandi Yuddh Ke Ratings
November 7-12 | Week 1: 0.33 (average)
November 12-19 | Week 2: 0.27 (average)
November 19-25 | Week 3: 0.25 (average)
In the week from November 12-19, the series ranked low on Star Plus’ list of shows too.
Ratings of Hindi Shows on Star Plus
- Saath Nibhana Saathiya 3.2
- Yeh Hai Mohabbatein 3.1
- Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai 2.2
- Pradesh Mein Hai Mera Dil 2.0
- Chandra Nandini 1.9
- Naamkarann 1.5
- Ishqbaaaz 1.4
- Suhani Si Ek Ladki 1.3
- Mere Angne Mein 1.2
- Jana Na Dil Se Door 0.8
- Master Chef India 0.9
- POW 0.6
Unlike the usual practice, POW is commissioned as a series by Star with a finite number of episodes - 126 to be precise, so it is unlikely that the ratings of the show will make any difference to POW’s telecast. As of now, Star Plus will be telecasting the show as a daily till April 1, 2017 on a budget of approximately Rs 27 lakhs per episode. Will the channel stand by it’s decision and keep the show running even if the ratings don’t improve?
In an interview to The Huffington Post before POW debuted on the small screen, series director Nikkhil Advani compared the show to regular Indian shows and said, “"Pain, suffering, sacrifice — these are emotions being depicted here as well as in the regular Indian TV shows, the ones we don't watch because we think we're too good for them. The only difference is that we've tried to present it with more subtlety and nuance."
Perhaps the audience which was looking for more subtlety and nuance has moved on to Netflix and Hotstar, binging on shows like Narcos, Black Mirror and Stranger Things.
In August this year, another high-profile TV series - season 2 of Anil Kapoor’s 24 opened to low ratings. Perhaps the audience which could have been the target group of shows like 24 and POW are now finding bigger and better shows on video streaming platforms.
And the audience left watching Indian TV isn’t charmed with subtlety and nuance - which explains why the bizarre supernatural show Naagin 2 still rules the TRP charts. Have POW and 24 fallen between the gap?
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