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Rewind2020: From pandemic effect on TV industry to Niharika Konidela's wedding; a round up of Telugu TV this year

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The year 2020 is memorable for various reasons. Right from the launch of special shows to popular shows being shelved, actors recovering from COVID-19 to most eligible bachelors getting hitched, here’s a quick rewind of the major events in Telugu TV industry.

Debuts and comebacks

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This was the year for some prominent debuts and major comebacks. National award-winning director Tarun Bhascker made his debut as a TV host with Neeku Matrame Chepta in March. On the other hand, Vindhya Medapati, who is known for hosting sports-based shows made his anchoring debut with the game show Nuvvu Ready Nenu Ready. Superstar Samantha Akkineni also made a special cameo as a TV host in the popular reality TV show Bigg Boss Telugu season 4. She stepped in for her father-in-law Nagarjuna Akkineni while he was away for his film shoot in Manali.

Pandemic hits Telugu TV industry

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Like the entire world, COVID-19 pandemic has affected Telugu TV industry as well. From TV shootings remained stalled for over three months. From actors dealing with the lockdown life, trying online challenges to staying in touch with fans through social media, the pandemic has triggered many changes in the telly world.

Telugu TV during lockdown

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Many popular TV shows including Karthika Deepam, Panchatantram, Mahabharatam, Bigg Boss Telugu season 1 and 3 have entertained fans on TV during the lockdown. Notably, the popular news show on a leading General Entertainment Channel (GEC) has ruled the TRP charts during the lockdown while premieres of popular Telugu movies have made it into the top 5 slots of the TRP charts. Ace anchor Ravi entertained the telly audience with his lockdown chat show Lockdown Talks with Ravi while Jhansi also launched her chat show ‘Love You Zindagi’.

Actors triumph COVID-19

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Many Telugu celebs including Prabhakar, Navya Swamy, Ravikrishna, Sakshi Siva, Harikrishna, Smitha, SP Balasubramaniam, Nagababu Konidela, Malavika, Rashmi Gautam, Sudigaali Sudheer and others have successfully recovered from COVID-19.

Resumption of TV shoots

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From shootings resuming following ‘new normal’ to actors testing COVID-19 positive and subsequently recovering, Telugu television industry had to cope up with the aftermath of the pandemic and lockdown. Telugu TV shoots were stalled for a few days after a few actors tested COVID-19 positive but a dialogue with Artistes Association of Telugu Television (AATT)’s meeting with Telugu Television Producers’ Council (TTPC) has taken some effective decisions on health insurance for safety gear and cast and crew members of the shows.

Major replacements

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Jeevitha Rajasekhar replaced Roja Selvamani in Bathuku Jatka Bandi in July post lockdown. On the other hand, Niharika replaces Sangeetha Kamath in the popular daily soap Karthika Deepam. Marking a major change in the popular comedy show Jabardasth, Mano replaced Nagababu as a judge in February. Ravi and Bhanu Sri replaced Sameera Sherief as the host in Adirindhi.

Actors and their pandemic weddings

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Rana Daggubati, Priyanka Naidu, Jabardasth Mahesh, Chandu Gowda, Samrat Reddy, Niharika Konidela got hitched in this year while Ashika Padukone got engaged recently. Singer-TV personality Sunitha found love again in Ram Veerapaneni. She will enter wedlock in the first week of January. Tejaswi also found a special friend in Chaitanya Kanhai in her recent trip to Kasol.

Bigg Boss Telugu season 4

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The fourth season of the reality TV series in Telugu was launched on September 6 amid the pandemic following the ‘new normal’ protocols. Abhijeet Duddala was crowned as the winner of the season which sustained its viewership despite various challenges.

Major milestones of popular shows

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While popular daily soap Karthika Deepam completed 900 episodes in this year, Kalyana Vaibhogam also completed 800 episodes. Priyanka Jain and Shivakumar starrer Mounaragam crossed 600 episodes recently, Jabardasth celebrated the completion of 300 episodes. Music reality TGV series Sa Re Ga Ma Pa has completed 25 years this year.

Shows that concluded their journey

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While a few popular shows ended their journey after entertaining fans for over years, a few shows were shelved due to the post-lockdown conditions. While Koilamma, Prema. Siri Siri Muvvalu, Lahiri Lahiri Lahirilo concluded, Anasuya’s Thalla Pellama, Roja’s Amma Sarileru Neekevvaru, Udaya Bhanu’s Superstar Mom, Koti’s Ragala Pallakilo, Drama Juniors 5 got shelved. Rana’s No.1 Yaari with Rana season 3 stalled after the shoot of a few episodes. Jagapathi Babu’s chat show Autograph was reportedly plugged off even before its launch.

TV celebs- Good, Bad and Ugly

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While celebrated playback singer-Padutha Theeyaga host SP Balasubramanyam passed away in September weeks after he reportedly recovered from COVID-19, other TV celebs made headlines for reasons – good, bad and ugly. Noted TV actress Sreelaksmi Kanakala passed away due to cancer in April while yet another TV actress Sravani reportedly died by suicide in September. BB Telugu 3 winner Rahul Sipligunj’s pub brawl created a stir in March while Jabardasth fame Dorababu and Paradesi were arrested in *** racket in March. Actress Sunandha Malasetti and Rashmi were one of the many who were stuck in Visakhapatnam during the gas leak in a chemical plant in May.