Television is a tool that, for decades, has fascinated us. But we’ve seen a thing called Web-Series arise with the evolution of the internet and the increasing presence of social media, establishing its position and taking over the digital space at a great speed in a quick interval of time. For a few aspiring filmmakers, the lack of good and related content on television has pushed the envelope to develop the episodic type called Web-Series and introduce new, relevant and impressive content. Youth” is one such particular TG (Target audience) that the entertainment industry is trying to capture and, in that segment, television has failed miserably.” Television tried very hard to interpret youth and their lifestyle from the environment of posh apartments occupied with bean bags, quirky costumes, and needless dialect. More of what they wear, how they eat, who they meet, what they watch, and less about how they feel, the concern was greater. Television is the platform of a writer, and the film is the platform of a director, which we have continued to hear from past generations, and the truth is that it is the reality. But the mix of these two is what influences the Web-Series. In its prose, the Web-Series scores high, but it also has a cinematic touch to it that makes it stand out from the rest. Television is, however, stuck with all of those close-ups and mid-shots. The Web-Series aims to set things up and capture them in a unique manner. Most of the directors ignore the rules and present Web-Series in a much more cinematic manner, trying to make it a cinematic pleasure for the public. According to the director of JSR Production house Mr. Tarun Rawat and Mr. Prashil Rawat. Web-Series is a small form which hardly ranges of more than ten episodes or 5-6 episodes. In these 5 to 6 episodes, the writer’s task is to arrange the script in such a way that it unfolds and executes the tale. Web-Series has tended to focus on topics that are typically not shown by television. For e.g., the “Sex chat with Pappu and Papa” of Y films was indeed an innovative Web-Series. The series introduces the conversation on lovemaking, safe sex, pregnancy, masturbation, menstruation, and homosexuality. This was the first series in India ever created by Sex Education.
We asked some people randomly what they think about web series. So, here are some of their views regarding it.
ARPIT (a student of Uttaranchal University): In my view, for the Indian web series, 2020 was a far better year because of the sheer range of fine, professional, thoughtfully written shows on the display. Paatal Lok was a brilliant, noir-adjacent exploration of urban degradation and the English-speaking Delhi journalist’s specific hubris (Neeraj Kabi this year did one of the finest performances). With its ease of storytelling and its excellent performances, Panchayat impressed one and all and also because fine, meaty stories from rural India are increasingly rare in this room. OTT platforms are better than TV shows because you can watch them according to your convenience. Whether you are on your bed or somewhere out, you can anytime play and pause it. That is the thing which I love about web series.
RITWIK (business person in Dehradun): Among worldwide OTT trends, by launching hundreds of new projects literally, Disney flexed its powers towards the end of the year. These included new shows from Star Wars such as Ahsoka and Obi-Wan Kenobi, new movies from the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe), and shows such as She-Hulk, Secret Invasion, Ironheart, Hawkeye, etc. When you take into consideration the unveiling by Warner Bros. of their 2021 movies releasing simultaneously in theatres and streaming online, one thing is for sure: Hollywood’s major franchise wars are now being waged in the OTT room.
SAMRIDHI (a school-going child): As I know, web series are way better than daily soaps of television because they are way more creative. Daily soaps run on a basic structure, and they care more about the appearance of the character, but in web series, all they prioritize is their acting skills. In web series, they can complete their entire season in one clothes, but the actions that you will get to see there will but top-notch.
AANCHAL (a student of management in UPES): The thing I like about web series is that they entertain as well as educate people. Maximum television shows are just for the audience’s entertainment purpose, but web series comes with entertainment and education. In short, we can say that now directors know what their audience
PIYUSH (a student of mass communication from Graphic Era): As we have taught in our graduation about the camera angles and shots in a movie, now our teachers generally try to show us web series for teaching us the camera movements. Unlike television shows, it has a lot to learn from it.
