After Doordarshan brought back the classics, channels like Zee TV and Star Bharat are also bringing back some of the most loved shows, including Sarabhai vs Sarabhai, Khichdi and Hum Paanch. MUSBA HASHMI tells you more
The year 2020 will be engraved in our minds for decades to come. The COVID-19 villain has managed to do the impossible — it has brought shooting of shows to a complete stand still. This means that the viewers have nothing new to watch. In such a scenario, many people are taking about the good old shows that used to keep them captivated. The Gen Z also wants to know what made these classics so good that their parents still talk about them even though it has been years since they went off air.
Just like Doordarshan has brought back shows like Ramayan, a few other channels are also geared up for the re-run of some iconic shows in order to maintain the daily dose of fun, laughter and thrill.
While Star Bharat is back with the laugh-riot — Sarabhai vs Sarabhai and Khichdi, from April 13 between 10 am and 12 pm, Zee TV is no less and Hum Paanch is back too from tomorrow — Monday April 13, 2020. The re-telecast signifies how these shows are still in demand.
Ashok Saraf who played Anand Mathur in Hum Paanch says that the only reason that these shows have always been in demand is because they are still relevant.
“The sole reason that these iconic shows have been so popular is because of the fact that they were and still are relevant to the audience and hence, they are making a comeback on TV. I believe Hum Paanch is relevant to the audience even today. This is because the makers were such visionaries that they created a show in a manner that the audience could relate to it at any given point of time. It is a show that was written so well, inculcating such minute details and every episode depicting something new, that it never failed to surprise the viewers. A new issue was addressed every single time and they were also dealt with innovative solutions. This made it stand out. As humans, our problems have remained more or less the same, we just deal with them differently. The show depicts exactly that, with hilariously accurate comic timing,” he tells you.
He tells you that everyone on the sets used to listen to him since he was the eldest. “To be honest, everyday felt like a rollercoaster ride on the sets, it was so much fun. I miss those days and since I was the eldest, I remember everyone used to listen to me. We all worked like one big family,” Saraf recalls.
He adds that the pace of comedy shows has changed over years and become extremely fast. “These days people don’t pay much heed to the script. I fail to understand how they take something so essential, so lightly. As hard it is to write a comedy, at the end of the day, a good script is the backbone of it. Improvisation is obviously a necessity, but a good script can do wonders. The comedy scene today is very different, or if I may say, fast as compared to what we used to do back in the day. Moreover, TV these days doesn’t really make comedy shows anymore either. Today, the daily soaps are dominated by the saas-bahu drama, may be because audience also likes it, but I feel comedy will always have a special place. Also, today’s comedy shows are more of reality shows,” he says.
Sumeet Raghavan who played Dr Sahil Sarabhai in Sarabhai vs Sarabhai agrees with Saraf and says that he is waiting for the re-run of Buniyaad and Hum Log.
“All these shows have a special place in the hearts of the people. We have grown up watching these shows therefore there’s a different connect with them or for that matter with the characters Sarabhai vs Sarabhai came in 2004. The show is still evergreen. While these shows are available on digital platforms there’s a different feeling of watching it with your family on TV and even eagerly waiting for it to come. This feeling can’t be replaced. It has a nostalgic value. It is a great step taken by the channels to re-telecast these shows,” he says.