MUMBAI: NDTV India is foraying into fiction-based programming with the launch of mini-series Bombay Lawyers, directed by Satyajit Bhatkal and produced by Popular Prakashan.

Starting from 21 July, the 13 episode mini-series will be aired at 10 pm every Saturday. The one-hour episode is centred on the lawyer?s firm ?Roy & Raghavan?, who are committed to work with integrity and dedication to fight against injustice in all its forms. Each episode will deal with different issues.

NDTV Media Limited CEO Raj Nayak says, "We have received encouraging response from the advertisers, who have shown keen interest on NDTV?s foray into fiction based programming. The channel will commission more such shows if the mini-series works wonders."

Calling it a new beginning for news channels to document the real, NDTV India managing editor Dibang says, "Bombay Lawyers is our way to focus on grass root level social issues without indulging in any kind of vulgarity or sensationalism.As we are Jubaan pe sach, Dil mein India, and have shows like Hum Log and Muqabala, the mini-series is another social responsible programme."

Isn?t it the same kind of crime show that news channels air to add TRPs but packaged in a different format?

Dibang denies that NDTV India is getting back into crime shows. "We have taken all the crime shows off air even though it meant loss of TRPs. Unlike other channels we are not after TRPs. Crime shows take camera to the bloody spot and thrust the microphone to the victim or any relative only to get quick news. Bombay Lawyers is a fiction based series which takes up specific issues and not cases."

Writer and director of Bombay Lawyers Satyajit Bhatkal says, "The programme is a courtroom drama about real issues, real people and real conflicts, but in the emotional grammar of fiction."
Considering that ad spots are high priced in GEC, what is the strategy to price the ad spots of the serial in a news channel?
"For the serial, we are charging five times higher than what we do for our news shows. The ad space for the serial is sold to seven companies. Co-produced by Lifebouy, the sponsors include HUL (earlier HLL), Garnier, Hero Honda, Lenovo, Grasim and Godrej," says Nayak.

The lawyers in the programme are played by Meeta Vashisht, Murli Sharma, Rushad Rana, Jyoti Dogra and Kadambari Kadam.