A love triangle means a lot of drama, so it’s not surprising that this has been a hit formula for TV shows over the years. However, 2022 saw love triangles dominating television like never before. Even as the year comes to an end, from Anupamaa to Kundali Bhagya and from Imlie to Ghum Hai Kisikey Pyaar Meiin, there are at least 18 shows focusing on this theme. While a few shows are about young love, most others are handling the conflicts between pati, patni aur woh. So, what makes this track so popular that almost all writers are resorting to it? BT explores...
‘People love watching the drama around love triangles’
TV shows thrive on emotions and makers feel that a love triangle can bring along with it tears, heartbreak and fights and thus keeps viewers glued. Writer Divy Sharma (Anupamaa, Imlie) explains, “People love watching a love triangle because it creates a complex web of emotions; there are more temptations, self-doubt among characters leading to more mature, textured story-telling.”
‘The fear of losing your partner is an emotion that gives us scope to explore many tracks’
That love stories have always been the mainstay in TV, is known. Makers feel it’s a reflection of society to some extent. Producer Prateek Sharma, who has two shows, Pyaar Ka Pehla Naam: Radha Mohan and Rabb Se Hai Dua (both focus on the love triangle theme), elaborates on this thought. “This theme reflects the ongoing situation in society. After the pandemic, there have been real cases of cheating, extra-marital affairs and couples getting tired of each other due to the lockdowns. Also, the biggest fear an individual has is whether their spouse will cheat on them. They can handle other conflicts in life, be it financial struggles, trouble with families or even incompatibility, but not the thought of their partner falling in love with someone else. This is one emotion that can be explored well on the screen and leads to engaged viewership,” he says.
‘This theme resonates with our main target audience - housewives’
It’s important to have a solid story at the core, says producer Rajan Shahi, whose shows Anupamaa, Woh Toh Hai Albela and Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlataa Hai have explored the love triangle track. Rajan says, “Just making sure that there is a triangle doesn’t ensure a successful love story. What matters is how well the triangle is portrayed. In Anupamaa, there was a conflict between a man and his wife, who is a homemaker and she realises after years of marriage that her husband is cheating on her. This resonated with the current middle-aged group of homemakers, who connected with it.”
‘It is important to weave in larger themes around a love triangle’
While love triangles continue to rule, it’s difficult to sustain them in the long run. They need to be supported by other dramatic tracks, which include family disputes or even a bit of the saas-bahu tadka. Producer Sargun Mehta’s show Udaariyaan post the leap too, explores the theme, says, “From a storyteller’s point of view, a love triangle brings an air of drama, excitement, and intrigue to any story. However, it is important to weave in larger themes such as interpersonal relations around family or friends since that drives the emotions of the audience as well.”
Shows that are about love triangles on TV
Imlie
Ghum Hai Kisikey Pyaar Meiin
Na Umra Ki Seema Ho
Rajjo
Faltu
Kumkum Bhagya
Parineetii
Rab Se Hai Dua
Pyaar Ka Pehla Naam: Radha Mohan
Bhagya Lakshmi
Yeh Hai Chahatein
Udaariyaan
Bade Acche Lagte Hain 2
Woh Toh Hai Albela
Kundali Bhagya
Main Hoon Aparajita
Janam Janam Ka Saath
Banni Chow Home Delivery
