Crime Patrol: All about CRIME and CRIMINALS!

Crime Patrol, a series on Sony Entertainment Television that deals with real life stories of Crime and Criminals, has slowly made it to the TRP charts and is now among the Top Ten Shows of the Week. Crime Patrol, conceived and created by Subramanian S. Iyer and developed along with Neeraj Naik is in its Third Season of telecast at the moment.

Hosted by the popular television actor Anup Soni, Crime Patrol is the first of its kind to be aired on Entertainment Network.

When we have several crime based shows on various News Channels, what makes Crime Patrol so different from the rest? As is strongly believed, its not WHAT you show but HOW you show it, that makes all the difference. Similarly, the execution of Crime Patrol is very different as it helps the viewers to understand the “Why” behind the crimes apart from focussing on the “How” and “When”.

Rangmunch.TV, had the priviledge of talking to Anup Soni - the "Face of Crime Patrol,"  who gave us an insight into his journey from an Anchor’s perspective and shared the reason as to why Crime Patrol is garnering high TRPs.

“We have completed more than one and half year with Crime Patrol. There are lots of other shows that depict real life crime stories, but I feel what has connected the audience with this show is the way we have put forth the stories. In the last six months, we have seen a rise in TRPs which means more and more people are connecting with the show.The main thing is that we do not believe in sensationalizing it. Its not like oh my god ! what is this? Its more of a genuine approach that comes across very strongly in every episode. People have noticed and realised that we are not making a hungama or sensationalizing Crime, neither are we glorifying it.

The purpose of the show is to make people aware as to what is happening around them, within the society and through the show we want to convey to our viewers that little precaution is necessary. The cases and  stories  we choose are directly related to common people. Recently we showed a case about a domestic help killing the employer just for the sake of money. The approach behind showing that particular crime story is to make people cautious, since dometic helps these days are an integral part of our life style and we can’t do without them. However don’t push them to do something that will cause harm to you as they belong to a sector where things are a lot more valuable to them. Jo cheez hamare liye 10 rupaye ka hai, shayad unke liye woh 100 rupaye ka ho. Apne paison ko leke thoda clear rahe.”

Infact 99%  of the crimes are committed by individuals who don’t have a criminal background. We have cases where a man works in an IT company, who has done M.Tech or B.Tech, but has gone about killing someone.

Crime Patrol, has definitely made me more sensitive to my sorroundings. I’m the kind of person who gets very deeply involved with whatever I do. There are times when I am shocked with the kind of cases I get to see and hear, and it stays with me for a good couple of days till I go and shoot the next case. We have brilliant writers and a great research team who are very thorough while writing the screenplay. Itna detail mein likhtey hai ki woh cheez dramatised hoti hai purposefully. When we get a case, we get a storyline. Par usko jab screen play mein dhaaltey hai, toh kai cheezon ko enhance kiya jaata hai. Jo dialogues hum likhtey hai, we are not even sure ki woh dialogues bole gaye they ya nahi. The idea of writing those dialogues is not to create masala but to convey the right message to the audience. As soon as I get the script I involve myself completely in it. When shooting, I do try to improvise the script and bring in something more on board from my end. I don’t do anything without the permission of my Director, but they know if I want to add something, it will only be for the benefit of the show. Being a part of the society, I feel I should say a little more than what is scripted.

We do travel a lot, but not regularly. We also travel to cities where cases have happened and do interact with victim’s family. But now we have cut down on that unless the need comes across very strongly.

As an actor, you plan so many things, but not all things happen the way you want. I always had the desire to anchor a show but was not sure what kind of show would suit my personality. But when Crime Patrol happened, I knew this is what I exactly wanted to do.” ~ Anup Soni

Rangmunch.TV, through this article would like to request all its readers to beware of one’s surroundings. Its very difficult to delve into people’s minds and judge their intentions correctly at all times. Along with Anup Soni, we at Rangmunch.TV would also like to reiterate the fact that a little precaution can save us and our loved ones from a  catastrophe.

Chaukanna Rahiye, Khush Rahiye!!!

Interviewed by:

Swati Ghosh
Niharika Vidya Sagar

Edited by:
Navyanka Varma
Swati Ghosh


Rangmunch.TV

An Institution in Herself - Surekha Sikri!

Surekha Sikri, an alumni from National School of Drama and two times National Award Winner,  has carved a niche for herself both on Television and Silver Screen with powerful roles and impactful acting.

With her brilliant portrayal of characters in films like Tamas, Mammo, Zubeida, Sardari Begum, she has time and again proved that she is not only VERSATILE but is a BORN actor. Her role in Banegi Apni Baat on Zee TV is fondly remembered by audiences even today.

Last three years her character as Dadisa in Balika Vadhu has become extremely popular and a household name. When we met Anandi’s Dadisa aka Surekhaji on the sets of Balika Vadhu, we were awestruck with her humble and down to earth attitude. Believe it or not, its just not us who are in awe of her, but every co-star of Balika Vadhu including the Director himself is completely smitten by Surekha Sikri, the Actor.

Rangmunch.TV brings to you some of the comments straight from the cast and crew of Balika Vadhu.

Siddharth Sengupta (Director): “The first time I was shooting with Surekhaji, I was very apprehensive. She is a University of Acting. Sometimes without uttering a single dialogue, just her mere presence and the way she looks, enhances the entire scene. She gives acting tips to her co-actors.

I have worked for nearly 15 years in this industry and with almost 5000 actors, most of them very good actors. I have even worked with Seema Biswas but she has been the best so far. There is a difference between dedication and devotion. She is devoted to acting. She does her homework. I have not seen this kind of homework being done by anyone. You take all the actors on one side and keep Surekha Sekhri on the other side, that is the equation. I have not worked with anyone like Surekhaji. What she does on screen is magic. You have to explain what the scene is and then after ten minutes, she comes to perform and you see magic on screen.

Balika Vadhu wouldn’t be the same without Surekhaji. It is an honor to work with her. She is somebody you can learn from.”

Anup Soni (Bhairav Singh): “Surekhaji is too senior to me. So when I and Satyajit joined National School of Drama Delhi, we did hear about her. But this is the first time I am working with her, and I can vouch that one can see a mark difference in the way she performs vis-a-vis those in other shows. Its actors like Surekhaji who have given variety to audience in terms of acting and have made them realise that what they have been watching on other shows is not the ultimate acting. Also her presence has enhanced the performances of all the new comers who have joined this show. I strongly believe that when you are in the company of brilliant actors, you will always perform good, provided you are eager to learn and grow.”

Shashank Vyas (Jagiya): “To be honest I was not happy when I got selected to play the lead role in Balika Vadhu. I was extremely nervous since it was already a very popular show and was worried as to how I would perform before such Veteran actors who are former students of National School of Drama. I still remember, when I came to the set, the first person I met was Surekhaji. I touched her feet and asked for her blessings and she very humbly said “ok do it, all the best. Set pe miltey hai (will meet on the set).”

This place is nothing less than an academy for me where I get to learn the nuances of acting and emoting on a daily basis, which further helps me to be a better actor. I really feel blessed to get Balika Vadhu at such an early stage of my career.”

Pratyusha Banerjee (Anandi): “Surekhaji is a sweetheart. She has mood swings but is the best person to work with. When doing scenes with her I have to ensure that I give it my best inorder to match up to her calibre and to get noticed.”

Neha Marda (Gehna): “It was a privilege to share the screen with Surekhaji. Even if the scene is not hers, she always walks away with the cake and the cherry at all times with her mere presence. Even without saying a single dialogue, and with expressions alone she does miracle. I really feel blessed for getting an opportunity to do Balika Vadhu and I would like to thank Surekhaji for being so supportive and positive while doing the scenes. Its been an amazing journey so far working with her and as everyone says, “she is an institution in herself” holds true.”


Having heard such delightful things about her from her co-stars and people who have worked with her, we are more than happy to have got a chance to  meet her and spend some time around her! Rangmunch.TV takes it as a privilege to be publishing this write up for its fans. 

Interviewed & edited  by:

Swati Ghosh &

Niharika Vidya Sagar