Small Screen

Small Screen....It has been an indespensible part of our lives. I don't really remember when we got our first tv-box. But I do remember the model ..it was a Crown b/w 20'' television set. It was brought exactly when the one of the first popular tv-serials Ramayan was being aired. Some are curious to see if Tendulkar makes a mark in the upcoming series...some watch it to find out if Prerna meets Anurag..while some just want to get entertained.

Fifteen-sixteen years back DD ruled the stage. Hum Log, Hum Rahi, Buniyaad, Gul Gulshan Gulfam were some of the classics. Mahabharat enjoyed the largest viewership. Turning Point gave a scientific edge whereas series like Bharat Ek Khoj, Chanakya maintained the cultural heritage. Zee Tv was I guess the first hindi channel besides DD1. Star Plus was an english channel then.  Steadily but not slowly the tv world has evolved.  One of my favorites (n I guess for many)-- Jungle Book started animated age. Kids glued to Duck Tales, Arabian Nites, Tale spin.  Dillagi- the comedy series based on people and their relationships in an office was a Zee Tv starter. Another big one was Chandrakanta. Though I haven't seen much of Chandrakata...I used to get updates every Monday in school. Alif Laila...the boring one..paradoxically was a big hit.  Summer afternoons..we had Dekh Bhai Dekh, Swabhimaan, Shanti. Tehkikaat, Karamchand jasoos, Byomkesh Bakshi were from a different genre. Hum Paanch, Campus, Antakshari, Sam Re Ga Ma (Sonu Nigam), Parampara, Zee Horror Show, Philips Top Ten, Filmi Chakkar, Saans, Tol Mol Ke Bol were some of the popular ones.

10th to 12th was a period when I had the good old Doordarshan. Dishayen, Suraag, Jaane Anjane, marathi soaps like Gharkul, Damini entertained me these four years. Kaun Banega Crorepati which marked the entry and the survival point of BigB was named the one with highest TRP after Mahabharat. Then the K-series paved their way in people's lives. 

Marathi serials have evolved quite significantly over the past few years. With new channels opening up...the marathi viewers have started transitioning towards marathi tv-entertainment. Awantika, Wadalvaat, Abhalmaya, Saheb-Bibi aani Me, Ghadlaya Bighadlaya, Prapanch have engrossed the marathis.

Though I would have missed quite a few names...looking back I see how well I was amused by this same television set. Just like recalling the college days makes us nostalgic...I am sure the serials and their characters force us to open up our memory album.