TV should not entertain but also give social message: Ravi Chopra

New Delhi, June 4 (UNI) At a time when an increasing number of television channels are dishing out ''kitchen politics'' in the name of entertainment, he is one filmmaker who believes in the motto of ''combining entertainment with a social message'', a philosophy reflected in his film 'Baghban' as in serials like 'Mahabharat'.

It is the same philosophy that is reflected in Ravi Chopra's latest serial 'Viraasat', that seeks to propagate the social message that "hate divides hearts while love can bring them together" through the story of two warring families that are sought to be brought together by the love of their respective kin.

Speaking at a press meet here last evening to promote the serial, to be telecast on prime time on Star Plus from June 12, Ravi Chopra said,''as a production house, our endeavour has always been to combine entertainment with the imparting of a social message in our films as well as television serials, in pursuance with my father B R Chopra's philosophy that the ''motto should not only be to entertain but also give a social message to people''. Viraasat is a continuance of the same policy.'' Sangita Ghosh and Rohit Roy will play the lead in the classical drama, being produced by B R Films', which will be a story of two warring families ,the Lambas Vs. the Kharbandas. Rohit Roy and Sangeeta Ghosh play the central roles of Rahul Lamba and Priyanka Kharbanda, who are madly in love with each other but are, however, bound by an age old enmity between their warring families.

Scheduled to be aired Mondays to Thursdays every week at 9 pm, 'Viraasat' features one of television's most popular stars, ranging from Kiran Kumar, to Deepak Quazir to Aman Verma to Amarr Upadhyay to Jayati Bhatia to Pooja Rawal Ghai to Rohit Roy and Sangita Ghosh (of 'Des Mein Nikla Hoga Chand' fame).

Speaking at the press meet TV star Sangeeta Ghosh said the serial or its portrayals bore no similarity to any 'Saas-bahu' sagas being aired on various television channels today.

The serial bears no similarity to any 'Saas-bahu' serials on television today. Infact, it is a clean entertainer that can be watched by the whole family together,''she said. Her co-star Rohit Roy, excited at the prospect of being cast in a TV serial being made by B R Films, said,''the serial is the first time that I have been cast in an intensely romantic role. Infact, the prime motivator to do the serial was that it is a far different role from those I have done till now on TV.'' More UNI AR LS GC1402