"CID has gone beyond popularity": Shivaji Satam

In a business where the life of a show is measured in months if not weeks, CID is an oddity. It has been on Sony for 16 years and continues to do well even as one generation of viewers is replaced by another. On the occasion of its 1000th episode telecast recently, afaqs! spoke to Shivaji Satam who plays ACP Pradyumn, the face of the programme - and perhaps even of the channel itself. Excerpts:

Edited Excerpts

The industry was in its infancy; the production quality was not so good. But black and white has just been replaced by colour on television and viewers were fascinated by that. It was the era of big serials, including Ramayan, Kathasagar and Gul Gulshan. All of these were story-oriented shows. There was no suspense or thriller except for Aahat. There were just Zee, Star and Sony and the programmes were few. The evening half-hour shows would all get over by 10-10.30. We were all newcomers to the Hindi scene.

We have always had amazing viewership ratings right from the beginning. The only time we felt a punch in the stomach was when KBC (Kaun Banega Crorepati) was launched and the ratings fell. But then everyone was suffering from the KBC syndrome. However, we survived and came out of it slowly.

I have always been confident about the show. Every time BP Singh (CID's creator) would ask me, 'How many more years?' I would reply, 'Three'. But honestly, 15 years was never a plan. For these things, you must always take one step at a time. We never tried to achieve this, we just enjoyed the journey.

One can't give up on a part of one's life. It's like asking Sachin (Tendulkar) whether he's bored of batting. I don't know what I would do if I quit CID.

We don't think much about the routine things that we do, and suddenly when you look back one fine day, you realise, 'Oh my God. It's been 15 years!' All these years have just flown by.

The kind of love that I get from the audience is amazing. My team and I, we have become a part of so many people's lives, especially that of children. It's beyond popularity. The children aren't stopped from watching the show because the parents know that we play the good guys. Kids imitate us and play make-believe CID games. I feel we are blessed compared to even the biggest names in films. If children of the country love you, what else do you need?

I don't think so. The people who know me and my theatre still recognise me as Shivaji Satam.

The medium makes all the difference. On which platform you are playing the role makes it special, whether it's on the stage, on the small screen or on the big screen. Once you are into the character, you slowly start building it up, making it more unique and hence it becomes synonymous with the actor, at times.

The CID characters have become superheroes like Phantom, Superman and Ironman.

That's true. Even the channel agrees that CID is their flagship show and that ACP Pradyumn (Shivaji) is the face of their channel. The people at the channel are generous and warm.

(Grins) A marketing stunt pays off well for the show sometimes. I have never thought of quitting CID.

It's nice working with all these top people. We realise that even they are aware of our journey and where we stand. They also feel nice about being a part of CID. It's a compliment to us that someone like Aamir, Akshay or Kareena come to promote their films through the show.

As for the story, it's important that the track involves the characters in the film played by these actors. What is interesting is that even in the episodes which have film integration, these actors don't take centre stage. CID always remains in charge of the case. No star wants to interfere with that.

Films are magnified and huge. TV is a small screen that is bang there in front of the eyes. It's a different kind of an experience.

On stage, the acting has to be much louder, the body language and the dialogue delivery have to be a lot more pronounced. It's because the person sitting in the last row has to feel the character and get involved in the same way as the person sitting in the first row.

In film, when there is a wide shot, the body language has to be similar to that in theatre. When it comes to close-ups, it has to be like television. In fact, television is about the close-up and semi-close up shots. Having learnt a lot of theatre, one has to use the eyes very well.

Maybe they get bored of the male-oriented roles. It's natural because they are young and they have opportunities. It's a career that they have planned for themselves. CID is also very demanding in terms of time. Only when they quit the show can they really find the time to pick up something else.