Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah has not only completed almost 2,000 episodes, it has also entered the limca Book of Records for being the longest running comedy show. PRAKRITI ROY catches up with the team and actors who share their experiences and tell you that they are nowhere near done
Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah (TMKOC) will complete eight years on air on July 28, 2016. Since the eight years it has been on air, there has not been one single day that the show’s loyal fans have missed seeing their favourite funny families at 8.30 pm every Monday to Friday. While fans continue to swear by how great the show is, the makers remain equally enthusiastic about creating something new for their viewers each day.
Creator of the show, Asit Kumarr Modi, who primarily designs the story as well as produces the show, tells you and he didn’t find it difficult to think of the storylines. “I still have a lot of stories to tell through TMKOC. Sometimes, it is difficult to shoot, as we shoot almost everyday and have to push out 22 episodes every month, but we are far from tired.”
Dilip Joshi, who plays the central character of Jethalal, says what keeps them going is that this is a comedy. We are blessed to have a team where everyone is humorous. The basic premise is the same but we get to do new things and that’s what the audience enjoys,” Joshi says. He adds that his biggest motivation comes from the fact that what he does acts as a stress-buster for his viewers who never fail to laugh at the antics of the characters of TMKOC.
Over the years, not only has the fan base grown, but the show has also won accolades in the form of awards in various different categories. What is a hit with the viewers is also the jodi of Jethalal and Daya ben. For the team, the biggest recognition was when they were nominated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as one of the for his Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan alongside other influential personalities like Priyanka Chopra, Salman Khan and Sachin Tendulkar.
Kumarr recalls that the team was very surprised as they never expected to be nominated for such a noble cause. “It is great that the PM thought us capable of not just entertaining people but also doing something good for the country. My team has been very active for the Clean India campaign,” he tells you. Yet, he also says “Award mein agar kho jayenge toh kaam bhool jayenge,” explaining why awards are important but work is more important.
The TMKOC has a writing team of five to six people, some of whom have changed over the years while some of them have been writing for the show since the first episode. One of the scriptwriters explains what makes a show like this click with the audience and remain in their hearts. “Each of the characters has been accepted by the audience and they now think of these characters as members of their own family whom they meet every day at 8.30 pm. We sit with our families and watch the show as a viewer and ask our friends for feedback to know what is being liked. That is what works; that and the immense hard work that the entire team puts in,” he says.
Director Malan Suresh Rajda agrees. He says that all the characters have been ingrained in the writers and actors, so that you would never see anyone do something out of character. “Our talented creator and writers work on the script many times and we get the fourth or fifth polished draft. That is their level of commitment,” he says adding that when the show first started, the story focussed on children and targeted young audiences. “But this is something that anyone can enjoy, whether they are five or 85. No one gets bored as there is something fro everyone to enjoy,” Rajda tells you.
Each of the team members agree heartily on one thing — that they all work and live as a family. like any other family, there are sometimes disagreements between them, but these are resolved through discussions and explanations. And being like a family, they also spend their free time on the set indulging in activities like playing cricket or table tennis.
For now, despite having crossed almost 2,000 episodes, the team is in no way planning to slow down and their only aim is to live up to the expectations of the audience and make them laugh.