The Indian television industry is heavily dependent on daily soaps, also known as serials. The serials generally deal with stock characters of the obedient daughter in law alias “bahu” and the stern, sadist mother-in-law alias “saasu maa”. The plot of most of the serials is similar, dealing with domestic affairs and family politics. A certain angle of love and extra marital affairs is also brought in to add some spice to the show. This tradition of saas-bahu serials is generally credited to Ekta Kapoor, daughter of one of the living legends of the Hindi film industry, Jeetendra Kapoor. It was this woman who brought a revolution in the Indian television industry, through portraying the lives of the female members of Indian families. This wave of saas bahu dramas has, since then, taken a massive outlook and created a tried and tested method of a hit serial. In this list of ours, we are going to familiarise you with the ongoing T.V. serials that have engrossed the public to no length! The top 10 Hindi T.V. serials are:
10. Bani- Ishq Da Kalma
AIRED ON: COLORS
RUN TIME: MON-FRI 10:30 PM
Started as Gurbani, the show changed its title due to some objections from the Sikh community. The theme of the show is also a very controversial subject-the desertion of brides by NRI grooms. The plot focuses on Punjabi families and the growing obsession and trend of having an NRI groom for their daughters. The grooms however, desert their wives, leaving them in a Bermuda triangle of new world and hopelessness. The serial’s theme is also termed as a modern social evil. The story revolves around the protagonists, Bani and Soham, and their struggle for their love, highlighted with shackles of class, money and society. The serial has created a furore in the viewers. Its viewer ship is not just strictly Punjabi. The show has a lot of fans and numerous Facebook pages, which speak volumes about its popularity.
9. Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai
AIRED ON: STAR PLUS
RUN TIME:MON-FRI 9:30 PM
The show started in 2009 and as of July 2013, boasts proudly of over a thousand episodes at its disposal. Like many other television serials, this deals with a Marwari family, based in Udaipur. The focus is on the lead-couple, Naitik and Akshara Singhania. The show projects the life of a married couple in various roles, such as lovers, husband-wife, parents, daughter and son-in-law and many more. The show deals with the bonding in a joint Marwari family and how the couple engages with family affairs and stands by each other in moments of crisis or no crisis.
8. Balika Vadhu- Kachchi Umar Ke Pakke Rishte
AIRED ON: COLORS
RUN TIME: MON-SAT 8:00 PM
The title literally means “child bride”. The show started with a critical description of the horrifying social evil of child marriage, prevalent enormously in Rajasthan. However, as the plot proceeded, the show has projected various ills of society and the struggle of a female in every sphere of life, be it ranging from education to marriage. The protagonist Anandi and another main character of ‘Dadi sa’ are shown as the epitome of female strength and how they survive in the society. The show again has a Marwari family of Rajasthan as its backdrop and the dialect of that region is also tried to be copied in the show. The highlight and USP of the show remains the quips and quotes at the end of every episode, dealing with society, relationships and other important issues. The show, though a family drama, talks about various issues and themes in a coherent manner. The fan following of this show is highly commendable and noteworthy.
7. Madhubala- Ek Ishq Ek Junoon
AIRED ON: COLORS
RUN TIME: MON-SAT 8:30 PM
The serial has Madhubala and R.K. as protagonists. Madhubala alias Madhu has been born in an atmosphere surrounded by film industry and happily works as a beautician. But things start taking a different turn when she falls for a superstar R.K. The show has proceeded with their wedding and has dealt with various obstacles one faces in love. The show’s title reflects the attitude of the lovers in the serial, when love is no longer only love, it becomes a passion. The show deals with the journey of these lovers and the ups and downs of their relationship. The male protagonist has swept every girl off her feet. But that does not mean the female lead is behind. She too boasts of a large fan following.
6. Devo Ke Dev Mahadev
AIRED ON: LIFE OK
RUN TIME: MON-FRI 8:00 PM
The show airs on Life OK. Though a mythological series, the show has grasped the attention of all, ranging from the elderly to the youth. The visual effects and highly scientific treatment and depiction of Gods and Goddesses are of great interest to the younger generation. The show deals with the depiction of Lord Shiva and his various images and incarnations. The show explores the icon of Lord Shiva in a just manner. The strong acting skills of the protagonist have won him numerous awards and accolades.
5. Saraswatichandra
AIRED ON: STAR PLUS
RUN TIME: MON-FRI 7:30 PM
Now this serial will surely remind you oh Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam and Devdas. Why? It is Sanjay Leela Bhansali production folks! The show tells a poignant love story of Saraswatichandra and Kumud. The girl hails from a village in Gujarat and the guy is an oh-so-suave NRI from Dubai. It deals with their intense love-hate relationship and how they surpass all the obstacles with their infinite power of love. The youthful love and the strong intense feelings of today’s generation, mixed with the traditions and relations of family earn it a massive audience. The show has been constantly gaining high TRPs. The entire blend of Gujarat and Dubai seems to have gone down well amongst the audience.
4. Bade Achhe Lagte Hain
AIRED ON: SONY
RUN TIME: MON-THURS 10:30 PM
This serial has been of the all time favourites. This show has not followed the pattern of saas bahu relationship. This serial deals with a totally out of the box idea of a couple getting married at around the age of 40. The show depicts the relationship of Priya and Ram Kapoor and how they grow a bond together as time passes by. Their journey from enemies to friends to lovers and finally parents is very well established. Also, the serial highlights the brother-sister relationship and how it evolves with other relations at its side. However, with the recent turn out of events, the show’s TRP has dropped down a bit. Overall, this remains an all time favourite daily soap, without much crying business involved.
3. Pyaar ka Dard Hai-Meetha Meetha Pyaara Pyaara
AIRED ON: STAR PLUS
RUN TIME:MON-FRI 10:00 PM
This serial, like Bade Achhe Lagte Hain, deals with love. The jovial repartee shared between a young couple keeps the show vibrant and full of life. The fashion sense of the character of Avantika has also created a massive fan following. The protagonists Adi and Pankhuri and their bonding as friends and a married couple are blended smoothly with their responsibilities and duties as son and daughter-in-law. The show has some really curious negative characters that add spice and fun quotient to this family drama, based on romance at its core.
2. Qubool Hai
AIRED ON: ZEE TV
RUN TIME: MON-FRI 9:30 PM
This serial clearly speaks volumes about prevailing secularism in India. This is the only popular show on Indian television that talks about Muslim families and culture. It deals with the love story of Zoya and Asad, two personalities poles apart. The acting skills of the protagonists and their to-die-for looks have drawn a huge audience, irrespective of the religious barriers. The show has also been helpful in expressing the Islamic culture in a pure and serene manner, like never before. The storyline of young couple also has led to a great interest in the minds of people of all ages, irrespective of caste and religion.
- Diya Aur Baati Hum
AIRED ON: STAR PLUS
RUN TIME: MON-FRI 9:00 PM
The show that has been topping the charts since a very long time now is none other than Diya aur Baati Hum. The show deflates the myth that women can only be behind a man’s success. It reverses the whole situation as the hero, Suraj, is the one who takes all the pains to fulfil the dream of her wife in her career. This show has a Marwari family of Pushkar as its backdrop. The mother-in-law, fondly known as bhaabho, is a lady of strong determination and rigid in following customs and traditions. Diya aur Baati Hum is about the obstacles that come in the path of the couple in nurturing their relationship and dreams as well. Despite of a huge difference in educational qualifications, there compatibility shared by booth and the toxic dialogues of ‘bhaabho’ have successfully helped the show makers carve out a niche for themselves in the much competitive television industry.
TELLY BUZZ 