Desi is the flavour of the season whether it is in foreign films or soaps and sitcoms. If Bollywood star Anil Kapoor is the Indian attraction in MI5, Baljeet in Phineas and Ferb too has his unique mannerisms to win the audience over.
Sitcoms like How I Met Your Mother, Modern Family and Big Bang Theory even have the Indian as the ‘surprise’ element. Actor Akul Balaji thinks it is only natural to do so considering the popularity of anything Indian overseas. “Indians have made their mark at least at the Oscars and Cannes. Desi music and Bollywood numbers are hitting their charts, our movies are doing great overseas. What better way to sell their programmes to the Indian audience than to have that Indian element in them?” he asks.
This concept has potential for high TRPs and has led to the serials including an Indian character as one of the protagonists.
Dr Chytra who is an ardent TV buff says, “The rest of the world is finally realising that India can make or break the success of a film or serial. After seeing the success in the local market, they also want a share in the pie.”