Deepa Gahlot revisits popular characters from TV shows of the past
The passing of Satish Shah recently, reminded people of the glory days of Doordarshan, and the sheer variety of shows that were telecast. They were allotted in 13-episode parcels, and still, some of the shows and their popular characters have remained in memory, often nudged by YouTube, where a few of the shows could be found for those who go looking. There were the ensembles of Hum Log, Buniyaad, Dekh Bhai Dekh, Nukkad, Circus and the epics, and then there were shows that were led by a character that became a TV icon, before the glamour of satellite television and daily programming, or the binge watching of OTT shows tool over.
A pick of 10 Unforgettable TV characters:
Rajni (1985):
Caption: Priya Tendulkar’s strident tone would have been meme-worthy today.
Basu Chatterjee’s sitcom, inspired by Here’s Lucy took on a life of its own, when instead of the ditzy housewife his Rajni became a neighbourhood crusader, who fought the bureaucratic incompetence as well as the small injustices inflicted by postmen, telephone wiremen, electricians, recaltricant cabbies, noise polluters. Played by Priya Tendulkar, her slightly strident tone as she berated offenders would have been meme-worthy today. Back then, it was imitated, parodied and picked by advertisers to sell products – like the ‘Surf ki kharidari mein hi samajdari hai’ commercial. It ran for just 26 episodes, but created an indelible impact.
Karamchand (1985):
Caption: “Sir, you are a genius”
Pankaj Parashar directed Pankaj Kapur in one of India’s first detective series, in which the carrot-munching lead, helped the cops solve complicated cases with ease. He was accompanied by his starry-eyed assistant, Kitty (Sushmita Mukherjee), who would adoringly gush, “Sir you are a genius” when the boss cracked a case, to which his unvarying response was “Shut up, Kitty.” The first season ran on Doordarshan, but its enduring popularity prompted Sony Entertainment Television to commission a second season, in which Kapur reprised the role, while Kitty was played by Sucheta Khanna. Karamchand, written by Sudhir Mishra inspired by the American series Columbo, was so popular that the character’s name sold carrot halwa and dark glasses like the one he wore in the show.
Malgudi Days (1986):
Caption: Young Swami is a memorable hero
Master Manjunath played Swami in the delightful adaption of RK Narayan’s stories, based in the fictional town of Malgudi. Directed by Kannada actor and director Shankar Nag, the series had with music composed by L.Vaidyanathan and had sketches by the writer’s brother, the great cartoonist RK Laxman. The series was revived in 2006 with 15 new episodes directed by Kavitha Lankesh, but the original still retains its charm and young Swami is a memorable hero.
Wagle Ki Duniya (1988):
Caption: Wagle, the relatable common man
The sitcom, directed by Kundan Shah was based on the ‘common man’ created by famous cartoonist R.K. Laxman, who also narrated it. Anjan Shrivastav played an ordinary middle-class man, and Bharati Achrekar played his wife, as they struggled through the normal life of ordinary folk, laced with gentle humour. Audiences found the show so relatable, that a sequel series Wagle Ki Nayi Duniya was aired on Star Plus in 1999. Wagle Ki Duniya—Nayi Peedhi, Naye Kisse, a sequel started airing on Sony SAB in 2021 focussing on the family’s younger son Rajesh Wagle, his family and his neighbors. Both Anjan Srivastav and Bharti Achrekar reprised their roles.
Mungerilal Ke Haseen Sapne (1989):
Caption: Mungerilal, the tragic-comic dreamer
Prakash Jha directed this show, based on the famous fictional character Walter Mitty created by James Thurber. Mungerilal, played by Raghubir Yadav, is a mousy man bullied in real life by his wife, boss and father-in-law, but in his rich imaginary existence, he puts them all in his place. The incorrigible day dreamer was a tragi-comic character, but turned out to be hugely popular, with the actor still being identified by that role.
Fauji (1989):
Caption: Fauji gave India SRK
Just 13 episodes of 24 minutes each, directed by Colonel Raj Kumar Kapoor, and gave India Shah Rukh Khan. He played Abhimany Rai, a commando in training at an army camp. He wasn’t supposed to be the lead, but as Kapoor said later, the camera “loved him so much” that they had to change the script to move him up from second lead. The series followed a new set of recruits their troubles during the tough training, their pranks and the punishments they get from their officers.
Byomkesh Bakshi (1993-1997):
Caption: Simple, tasteful, entertaining
Basu Chatterjee directed this series based on the fictional detective created by Bengali writer Sharadindu Bandopadhyay. The Sherlock Holmes-like character, who calls himself a truth seeker, solves cases with his powers of observation and unerring sense of justice. He is accomanpanied by his Watson like friend, Ajit Kumar Banerjee (KK Raina). Simple, tasteful and entertaining, the acclaimed show was re-telecast on DD National in 2020 during the lockdown.
Shanti (1994):
Caption: Mandira Bedi is still identified as Shanti
Billed as the first daily soap on DD, the show directed by Adi Pocha, introduced Mandira Bedi as the titular character. The high-powered family drama. Shanti poses as a journalist to write the biographies of two rich men, whose lives and families have a lot of secrets. She is actually in search of her own biological father, who is one of the two men. DD shows were not meant to be scandalous, but this one broke the mould and opened the doors for other complicated soap operas, and Mandira Bedi is still identified as Shanti.
Chandrakanta (1994):
Caption: Irfan Khan’s performance as a shape-shifting ‘aiyar’was unforgettable
Based on the 1888 fantasy novel by Devaki Nandan Khatri, this series, directed by Nirja Guleri, was once the most popular show on DD. The costume drama full of romance, sorcery, espionage and grand battles, had at its centre the beautiful Princess Chandrakanta played by Shikha Swaroop. She is part of a complicated plot of romantic rivalry, warring princes and wily courtiers. Reruns of the show also aired on Star Plus and Sony Entertainment Television. It is also remembered now, for Irfan Khan’s performance as a shape-shifting ‘aiyar’ (spy).
Shaktimaan (1997-2006):
Caption: So loved by kids
By today’s sophisticated standards, DD’s superhero series, starring Mukesh Khanna looks gauche, but the long-running series was so loved by kids, that warnings had to be issued for them to refrain from imitating the stunts. Created by Khanna and directed by Dinkar Jani, the show, inspired by Superman, had the nerdy, buck-toothed Gangadhar Shastri, a photographer for Aaj Ki Awaaz, acquires superpowers through meditation and the five elements infused into him by mystical forces. In his superhero costume, he fights evil and the villain Tamraj Kilvish (Surendra Pal). There were animated spinoffs and even a film based on the character.
