Indian
TV dramas have gone a long way since the saas-bahu theme ruled the roost. Now
many of the soaps have started flaunting social awareness themes. But the
kitchen politics and glitz and glitter of the earlier dramas have not been
banished fully. Now many of the popular drams highlight love between young wives
and husbands brought together by arranged marriage. The joint family
complexities bring the young couple face to face with dilemmas and conflicts of
life which they sort out in their ingenious ways. Many popular dramas like Diya
Aur Baati Hum, Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai, Pyar Ka Dard Hai Metha Meetha Pyara
Pyara and Pavitra Rishta deal on themes of young love inside marriage. There
are some which emphasis strong social themes like problems of child marriage
(Balika Vadhu). Sitcoms such as Tarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashma bring out the
middle class sentiments and mannerisms. Mythological dramas have always been
super hits with Indian TV audience. After the early successes of great epics
Ramayana and Mahabharata, now it is the turn of Lord Mahadeva to regale the
audience with his colourful story. This has been one of the most engrossing
seasons of great drama on Indian small screen.
(1)
Diya Aur Baati Hum – Star Plus (Monday to
Friday, 9.00 pm)
A sentimental family drama
showing the story of an ambitious girl fighting against the mundane
complexities of a middle class joint family to keep her dream of becoming a top
police officer alive. Deepika comes from a middle class family where her father
is a upright and honest government employee. He has inculcated in her the good
moral value and the courage to stand up against social evils. She cherishes the
dream to become a top police officer. Circumstances bring her to be married to
Sooraj, a self-made young man with strong family values. The serial follows the
struggles and conflicts in the life of Deepika caught in the whirlpool of
middle class joint family complexities. The serial runs in prime time all days
a week and the popularity is sky high.
(2)
Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai – Star Plus
The complexities for a young
couple trying to balance their love for each other against the demands of
middle class family sentiments and traditions form the backdrop of this drama.
The story tries to establish love as a sacred and powerful force which is
possible even in the complex setting of traditional joint family system. The
value of Indian arranged marriage system is accentuated through the story of
shy Marwari girl Akshara's betrothal with Naitik, which develops into a sacred
tie where the young couple discover the true meaning of love. Star Plus telecasts
the drama at 9.30 PM on all week days.
(3)
Pyar Ka Dard Hai Metha Meetha Pyara Pyara–
Star Plus
Another Star Plus hit, the
story revolves around the fortunes and relationship between mercurial Aditya
and spirited Pankhuri who agree on very
little. The heroine is romantic and believes in the true power of love. The boy
is bitter about love and family life having experienced the breaking up of his
parents. Circumstances bring them together romantically and the drama that
ensues brings about a synthesis of their ideas. Telecast timing Mon-Fri 10 PM
(4)
Tarak Mehta Ka Ooltah
Chashma – Sab TV
The popular sitcom features
the interesting aspects of the community members living in an apartment
complex, how they get into problems and try to get out of them in their
ingenious ways. The funny accents, gestures and stupidity get together to
tickle your funny bones. Hilarious moments in the city building society bring
to the fore, the middle class attitudes and sentiments. The society may go to
any extent to add some pep into the lives of the inhabitants. Even it could
arrange re-marriage for lead comedians Jethalal and Daya Bhabhi with much pomp
and fanfare.
(5)
Kaun Banega Crorepati – Sony TV
A popular quiz show based on
the US and British TV game show “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” In India it is
hosted by mega movie star Amitabh Bachchan since the season of year 2000. Now
the show offers huge jackpot prizes, because of which the present seventh
season is being referred to as “Kaun Banega Maha Crorepati”. This show has been
very popular from the first season.
(6)
Pavitra Rishta – Zee TV
Story of a comely girl,
Ankita who shoulders the responsibility of her whole family. She works in
Naren's company and Naren's mother wants to see her as her daughter-in-law. But
Ankita is already been proposed by Shashank, whom she also loves. Other
relations and their expectations force the plot to meander into a complex
situation so common in Indian joint families. This drama airs on all
weeknights.
(7) Balika Vadhu – Colors TV
Set in rural Rajasthan,
Balika Vadhu follows the story of Anandi (Toral Rasputra) who was married to
Jagdish when she was 8. Although not allowed by the law child marriage is still
in vogue in some traditional societies in India. The TV drama has been tackling
this sensitive social malady since it premiered in 2008. Deviating from the
shrill melodramas this serial bears a strong social message has been
instrumental in influencing the traditional and rural society to re-look into
their age old traditions. Dadisa is a strong character who is caught between
the tradition and her pragmatic point of view.
(8) Devon ke Dev ‘Mahadev’ – Life OK
The legends of Mahadev Shiva
have great following among Hindu devotees. Many facets of the life of the
destroyer god among the Hindu trinity are beautifully unfolded in this series
which had its premiere in 2011. Mythological dramas have a strong grip on
Indian audiences. Shiva is a very important god in Indian pantheon. His
bohemian nature, strong love for Parvati and a golden heart endears him among
his myriad of devotees. The drama capitalises on the popularity of Mahadev in a
very ingenious way.
(9)
Uttaran – Colors TV
Two childhood friends
present diametrically opposite natures. While Ichchha, daughter of a
maidservant with Tapasya’s parents’ home scores over the rich, selfish and
arrogant Tapasya, the drams takes interesting twists and turns. Things come to
a head when Ichchha wins over the fiancé of Tapsya. The series premiered in
2008. The drama shows that one's true personality rather than situation of
birth upbringing determines her true standing in life. Ichchha's tender
innocence and sense of sacrifice has made her admirable to the viewers over the
years.
(10)
Sapne Suhane Ladakpan Ke – Zee TV
The drama depicts the
dreams, he fears, hopes and relationships of two teenager cousins differing
greatly in their upbringing, but brought together by circumstances. The city
bred and cosmopolitan Gunjan has to negotiate the small town atmosphere of
Varanasi where she is sharing a room at her aunt’s home with her cousin,
Rachna. The drama wades through the
sentimental sides of the young motherless girl Gunjan. Telecast Monday through
Friday in prime time.
The new breed of dramas offers a great promise for the TV
viewers as new themes are experimented with innovative approach.