Let us tell you a story – a story about the TV. Walk along as we trace the journey of television in the country to the era bygone. As hard as it is to believe, there did exist a time when we were not addicted to our smart phones and watched TV only for an hour a day. Playing outside with friends appealed more to us than being cooped up inside the house. We cherished the one or two odd things that we did watch on TV in the evening after school. As soon as the program got over, we would be asked to do our homework, given dinner and asked to go sleep. The elders would then sit and watch their favourite show and call it a night. That was the time of Doordarshan (DD).Was it just the excitement of having a brand new TV set at the house or was it something beyond that? We make an attempt to find out with the top serials of the day in the past.
Written by: Sumitra Sundaram
Humlog
Humlog was Doordarshan’s longest running television serial, having aired over 150 weekly episodes. This serial was quite popular when it was telecast for the first time in 1984 and many characters from this serial had a fan following which rivalled even film stars at the time. It was a story of a middle class family with each member of the family having a unique quirk and different aspirations. The show was so big that there was a time when people thought that one of the characters was really a social worker and the producers had to subsequently clarify that she was just an actor and not a real social worker! The appeal of this serial lies in the fact that many Indians during the ’80s could relate to the characters and the issues it dealt with.
Fun Fact: Veteran Bollywood actor Ashok Kumar summarized each episode at the end.
Malgudi Days
If there was one show that fascinated both the young and the old alike, it was Malgudi Days. It was based on the famous short stories and novels of renowned author R.K. Narayan. The main story “Swami and friends” revolved around Swaminathan, or Chamy as he was called. He lives in the fictitious town of Malgudi and hates school. He prefers to roam around the town with his two best friends –Mani and Rajam. What troubles they cause to the town and its people formed the main crux of the episodes. The story also included the day to day travails of the people in general. The appeal of this series lay in its simple and realistic look which attracted the viewers across all age groups.
Fun Fact: The serial’s title track was laced with beautiful sketches that were drawn by Narayan’s brother and acclaimed cartoonist R.K.Laxman.
Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi
Yeh jo hai.. yeh jo hai zindagi, kabhi akeli kabhi dukeli.. crooned Kishore Kumar and we were hooked! From its catchy title track to its creative and funny visualisation, this serial was a winner. With just a handful of actors, it was a laugh riot. Set in a middle-class home, it dealt with everyday problems faced by a couple. The show has the credit for being one of the first sitcoms in India. The episodes revolved around funny happenings in the lives of a married couple. A trademark of the serial was the characters played by Satish Shah. In each episode, he played a different character that had a key role in the plot. These characters sometimes had no connection to the protagonists of the story.
Fun Fact: Back in the day, video stores in London would await periodically for a copy of the serial’s tape! It was so popular that it affected box office openings.
Karamchand
There are hardly a few people out there who are capable of escaping the lure of a good thrilling mystery. From Sherlock Holmes and Agatha Christie to our very own Detective Byomkesh Bakshi, there has been someone who always fixed our cravings for a good detective story. Doordarshan gave us Karamchand, one of India’s original detectives. The lead character played by Pankaj Kapur is depicted as a detective who helps the local police in solving crimes in his own eccentric style and unmatched intelligence. Some of the dialogues from the serial are even remembered today and used in funny memes. Another attempt was made to bring the serial back in the year 2007, but the director failed to bring back the spark from the original.
Fun Fact:Karamchand is shown eating a carrot at all times. He is accompanied by a silly assistant called Kitty who keeps asking him silly questions. When Karamchand answers her silly questions and enlightens her, she says, “Sir, you are a genius”!
Dekh Bhai Dekh
Reality shows rule the idiot box these days. But there was a time when the entire family used to sit together and enjoy TV shows. Some of them went on to gain cult status and few made it to the list of the most memorable shows of all times. Dekh Bhai Dekh used to be one such show. The Indian audience was in love with the three generations of the Diwan family and they could relate to each character in the show. The serial takes the family through sibling rivalry, relationship troubles, business problems, irksome parents and more. Even after almost two decades, Dekh Bhai Dekh remains the most loved show of all times.
Fun Fact: The serial was produced by Jaya Bachchan!
No matter how much one tries, it truly is difficult to replicate the golden era of television. In Bryan Adams’ words – “those were the best days of our lives”!