After AIR, it was a lifeline for people across all spheres of life. I can vouch for one thing that DD lovers would not have missed the daily news or 'Chitrahaar' (new film songs) or the "Rangoli" (old retro numbers) on Sunday mornings.
Check this link: http://8ate.blogspot.com/2009/10/famous-old-faces-of-doordarshan.html
History
DD had an extremely modest beginning with the experimental telecast starting in Delhi on 15 September 1959 with a small transmitter and a makeshift studio. The regular daily transmission started in 1965 as a part of All India Radio. The television service was extended to Bombay (now Mumbai) and Amritsar in 1972.
Till 1975, seven Indian cities had television service and Doordarshan remained the only television channel in India. Television services were separated from radio in 1976. Each office of All India Radio and Doordarshan were placed under the management of two separate Director Generals in New Delhi. Finally, Doordarshan as a National Broadcaster came into existence.
Right from the days of Doordarshan, we as kids watched serials' whose plots were based on the normal middle class Indian - his worries, tensions about eking out a living, his frustrations while dealing with the rich and so-called 'upper class' and a few educational bytes through programmes like 'Krishi Darshan', puppet shows for children by Kamini Kaushal, et al. Loads to mention as memories of 'good' serials still warmly flood me! But not once were we told off by our parents to get off the telly as DD was a family channel.
Simple Plots
Plots were so simple, down-to-earth characters who were just like our next-door neighbours who usually solved each other's problems brought a feel-good freshness after each episode.
Positive and social messages were given by the characters in each story. In fact, who can forget our own Ashok-da (Ashok Kumar) who came after every episode of "Hum Log" and gave a social message! Be it Renuka Shahane and Siddharth Kak's "Surabhi", which promoted cultural traditions of every region and focused on people who promote them as well!
Then came the era of detective serials, which had a dash of comedy in it, coupled with suspense. For instance, a serial like 'Byomkesh Bakshi', which had Rajit Kapur playing the role of the chief detective Byomkesh Bakshi with his assistant Ajit Bannerjee who investigated crimes together. There are many serials to write about...
DD gave us entertainment throughout so much so that one cannot deny it has carved a niche for itself in the Golden Hall of Indian Television History!
One has visual memories of all the serials vis a vis contemporary era when all serials advocate just one thing: violence and TRP. Hence we can easily rename this era as the 'TRP era'!
One has visual memories of all the serials vis a vis contemporary era when all serials advocate just one thing: violence and TRP. Hence we can easily rename this era as the 'TRP era'!
Yes, I still remember those good old days. In fact DD deserves a pat on its back as it gave Indian Television its first soap opera 'Shaanti' (starring Mandira Bedi).
ReplyDeleteHmm I forgot to add 'Shanti' in my list. But yes, I used to steal from my mum's eye to watch it as it was 'forbidden' at the time! Lol...
ReplyDeletehey nice article. i throughly enjoyed the Mahabharat, Ramayan, Chitrahar, Mogli, Surabhi, etc. on the weekends throughout my childhood.
ReplyDeleteHow can one forget the Buniyaad days and the days of Karamchand Jasoos. The informative serials and programmes of DD have shaped a whole generation. They were much better than the never ending Saas Bahu sagas of nowadays, which are nothing but spoilers(In my views, I am really sorry if my words hurt someone). The corporatisation of the television as a whole has brought down the quality of the programmes which once used to be informative and educative ones.
ReplyDeleteReally a wonderful piece of writing Priya. Hope to read more from you in the future . Keep it up and all the best.
Best wishes
Hassan
he he..Thanks Hassan for the encouraging words....hope i m able 2 write n reminisce more abt earlier times... :)
ReplyDeleteTks Cuttu :) though I dont knw ur identity :)
ReplyDeleteWow...i just re-lived my childhood..thank you for reminding the fond memories..Mowgli, tailspin, ducktales, byomkesh ..chitrahaar n Rangoli..list is endless..lovely write up..what is coming next??
ReplyDeleteThanks darling!!!
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