India’s newly appointed Human Resources Development Minister, Smriti Irani, is a familiar face in Sri Lanka, thanks to the mega serial Mahagedara, the dubbed Sinhalese version of the smashing Indian soap Kyonki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi.

But she is known in the island not as Smriti Irani or Smriti Malhotra as she was called earlier, but as “Tulsi” the powerful central character she played in the 600 episode serial, which had held Lankan audiences in thrall day after day for an unprecedented period of time. “Tulsi becomes Indian minister” said a newspaper headline.

“Tulsi became a household name in Lanka after Mahagedara began to be aired on Sirasa TV in 2005. She has a big fan following here,” said Ramesh Uvais, editor of the film and TV supplement of Daily Mirror. “When Mahagedara (Great House) was being aired, audiences would skip other programmes,” Uvais recalled.

Blogger “landlikenoother” says that he would avoid visiting his sister between 8.30 and 9 pm because she would be glued to watching Mahagedara.  

Hindi soaps dubbed in Sinhalese have captured the Sinhalese community’s imagination. It was Aditya Ray, CEO of Sirasa TV, who introduced this genre and boldly put them on prime time. He persisted even after the government imposed a levy on imported serials to help local talent. Within the first year of the introduction of dubbed versions of mega Indian soaps like Mahagedara and Praveena (Kasauti Zindagi Kay starring Shweta Tiwari), Sirasa TV had become  the most sought after channel at prime time.

Both Indian and Sinhalese soaps are woven around family problems. But what makes Hindi soap so much more attractive is its presentation, its fast pace, and technical excellence combined with high drama, properties Sinhalese serials are found wanting in. “The scenes are eye catching. The women especially go into raptures over the colourful saris worn by the stars,” Uvais observed.

Academic research has shown that  Sinhalese women, who are the most avid watchers of Hindi soaps, are fascinated by the portrayal of female power in these serials. - P.K. Balachandran (TNIE)