Too Different. Too Same. Too Bad.
There’s a moment every content creator in India dreads — the post-pitch silence. That weird half-smile from the channel exec, the scribbled notes that mean nothing, and then the eventual “It’s not what we’re looking for right now” email.
Sometimes, the idea was too bold. Sometimes, too safe. And sometimes, it was just… Tuesday.
So what is the perfect TV pitch for Indian television?
—
Same Same But Still Too Different
Let’s be honest — if you pitch something radical and fresh, they’ll ask, “Yeh kaun dekhega?”
Pitch something massy and familiar, and you’ll hear, “It’s already been done, kuch aur laiye.”
You’re stuck in this Bermuda Triangle of rejection where:
If it’s new, it’s risky.
If it’s tried-and-tested, it’s boring.
And if it’s both — well, “Hamare brand ko match nahi karta.”
—
What Channels Say vs What They Really Want
On paper, they want progressive female-led shows, bold new formats, and “something youth-centric.”
In reality, they want:
A loyal daughter-in-law with Wi-Fi
A love triangle that doesn’t threaten TRPs
And a hero who respects his maa but also drives a Fortuner
It’s not their fault entirely. They’re juggling advertisers, TRP predictions, prime-time slots, and an internal war room that makes Game of Thrones look like a picnic.
—
The Real Greenlight Formula?
Let me save you years of heartbreak: ✅ Story that’s slightly different but not unfamiliar
✅ Known cast or a safe face
✅ Producer they trust (or owe favours to)
✅ Budget they can squeeze into existing sets
And if your deck has slides with words like “festival,” “brand collab,” or “transmedia,” bonus points.
—
A Personal Rant (Because It’s My Blog)
There was a time I pitched a family drama that had layered characters, small-town realism, and a not-so-stereotypical daughter-in-law.
Rejection.
Three months later, a show with nearly the same logline launched. Slightly glammed up, plot tweaked, and well, someone else producing.
Welcome to Indian TV. Where no idea dies — it just gets repackaged by someone more “viable.”
—
So… What Should You Pitch?
Here’s the truth: There is no perfect pitch.
There’s only:
The right pitch
At the right time
To the right person
Backed by the right face
With the right relationships
You pitch what they want today so that maybe, just maybe, you can make what you truly believe in tomorrow.
—
And What’s Your Calling in All This?
Maybe it’s not to crack the code.
Maybe it’s to realise that your story — the real one — deserves to be told even if it’s not channel-approved.
Until then, keep pitching. Or pause and reboot.
Because too different, too same, too bad… can’t be the full stop to your story.
✨ Read more such rants, reflections, and reality checks only on WhatsYourCallingg.in
