With an abundance of OTT platforms, we are spoilt for choice, and the line between reel and real is blurring fast. Although digital platforms and modern television have changed the way content is consumed, Doordarshan’s legacy of serials will always hold a special place in our hearts.

When it comes to home entertainment, there is no greater convenience than the OTT platforms. It’s like a marriage made in heaven. It has truly been a game-changer, providing endless hours of enjoyment at our fingertips. 

But long before the OTT came, there was the cable TV era too, with its reliable signal and diverse content, cable TV once gave it tough competition to Doordarshan — and had (cable TV) became a household staple, offering something for everyone.

And before all of it, of course, we had our very own Doordarshan (aka DD) – India’s public broadcast service. DD played a vital role in shaping the television landscape in the country. Serials like ‘Hum Log’, ‘Malgudi Days’, ‘Surabhi’, and ‘Dekh Bhai Dekh’ were known for their ability to connect with audiences across linguistic and cultural barriers.

This is one of the reasons, the late ’80s and ’90s are often referred to as the ‘golden era of Indian television’ when DD used to broadcast epic shows like ‘Ramayan’ and ‘Mahabharat’. These serials were not just a means of providing entertainment, but also a reflection of our ancient values, traditions, customs, and culture.

I still remember, on Sunday mornings, while the family would be fast asleep, I would quietly slip out and go to our neighbour’s house to watch ‘Rangoli’, a show featuring old Hindi songs. My friend’s mother would serve us rusk bought from the nukkadwala shop along with hot malaiwali chai. We would then roll out a battered, old chatai and take our seats in front of the television set. 

Back in the day, it was a matter of pride to own a television. The TV tube was mounted inside a wooden cabinet with legs and shutters. Whenever we would want to watch a show, the shutter would be opened by a knowledgeable, senior household member who would be responsible for operating the TV. 

On Sundays, there would be non-stop entertainment programmes, and for us kids, there were shows like ‘Jungle Book’, ‘Captain Vyom’, ‘Chandrakanta’, and more. As we didn’t have the liberty to flip channels or rewatch a show the next day, we ensured that we sat down to watch them uninterrupted, and to our heart’s content. 

Very few households could afford to own a television set in those days, and even if they did, it would usually be a black and white one as these sets were more reasonably priced than coloured ones. 

Watching shows in colour was surely more fun, hence we used to seek friends who owned colour TV sets and drop by their houses to get our dose of kids’ shows while elders would be busy chatting over cups of steaming hot chai and pav. 

As opposed to the luxury that cable TV offers these days, one of the major challenges that DD faced in those days was unreliable reception. A gust of wind or bad weather would often result in a break in the transmission and a blank screen. But our home techies had come up with indigenous ways to tackle the issue. 

Two people would be assigned to do the job, one would go to the terrace of the building and keep on slowly turning the antennae until the reception improved while the other person would stand in front of the TV and shout out instructions until the desired effect would be achieved. Communication between the duo would include instructions like “Aaya kya? Ab dekho? Thoda left le lo, thoda right. Clear hain kya?” It was a primitive and amateur solution but it always worked.

However, things changed with the arrival of cable TV. We were treated to some fantastic shows that catered to all ages. But it was Ekta Kapoor who brought about a revolution of sorts in the television industry with her ever-popular ‘K’ brand of serials. If Komolika was the epitome of a vamp, then Tulsi and Parvati were the ideal bahus. Her shows were so addictive that housewives would be willing to forfeit any important engagement so that they wouldn’t miss out on a single episode of her saas-bahu serials.

Who can forget the uproar when the makers of the series chose to bump off Mihir Virani? The nation went berserk. Such was the craze for these larger-than-life characters. Now, with an abundance of OTT platforms, we are spoilt for choice, and the line between reel and real is blurring fast.

Although digital platforms and modern television have changed the way content is consumed, Doordarshan’s legacy of serials will always hold a special place in our hearts.