Doordarshan in my memory. Review on Doordarshan

An honest attempt to refresh memories of my childhood enjoyed watching DD on television.

About DD

Doordarshan is the oldest Indian public broadcaster & terrestrial television channel and it is a division of Prasar Bharati, a public service broadcaster nominated by the Government of India. Doordarshan literally means TeleVision and it is one of the largest broadcasting organizations in the world in terms of the infrastructure of studios & transmitters.

To MS Members

Most of the MS members must have born or living in the era of private channels and cable TVs.But there must be the people who have enjoyed the beautiful period of DD with its whole sole leadership on Television.I still remember the famous DD logo coming on TV for a long time before start of any program.We were so crazy to watch TV that we were ready to watch even the bore serials like Krishi Darshan on DD.

Me & my TV

I must tell here that I am not so old enough that I only remember DD programs and I don't watch TV just because of increasing advertisements on channels and stupid parivarik or saas-bahu serials or game shows and reality shows.I don’t remember I have even watch a single episode of any Ekta Kapoor's serials including gigantic serial - Kyunki Saas bhi kabhi bahu thi.If sometime I got a chance to watch TV, my fingers search only for Discovery, National Geographic Channel or History Channel.I rarely watch any other program on some other channel. I prefer to watch "Kya aap Panchvi Fail Champu Hain" to SRK's "Kya Aap Panchvi Pass se Tez hain"(I have seen both the serials only once).as comedy is a good time pass rather than such stupid game shows.

My Childhood and DD

We have studied in BHEL Education Society school in Bhopal and as per the schedule of the working days of BHEL we also have to goto school on sundays and we had our off on Mondays only. We all rush to our homes after school running for around 1.5-2 kms to watch DD programs.This schedule has been changed after we reach to the middle school and we were extremely happy with the new schedule just for getting time for watching Television on Sundays.So we have a great affection to DD.

DD & Superstars

DD has given many superstars in older as well as present time, one of the biggest name is Bollywood's King Khan - Shahrukh, who has acted in many serials on DD like *Fauji, Circus, Doosra Kewal, Dil Dariya; who *is not concerned about DD now due to low endorsements and less publicity.its all professional world, he is a super star & billionaire and he is tried many shows like KBC-2 and now he is wasting his time with the stupid shows like Panchvi Pass on some other channel.Some other actors who got good success in their carrer are *Shekhar Suman, Irfan Khan, Satish Shah, Rakesh Bedi *to name a few.

Re-telecastingof DD Serials

Some of the channels are trying to attract old age viewers or the viewers with that old taste by re-telecasting the old serials of DD. Although these old serials are telecasting in odd time slots but the channels have filled the slots and getting the viewers anyhow.

Some renowned and famous actors from DD serials

Pankaj Kapoor - Neem ka Ped, Karam Chand, Phatichar

Raghubeer Yadav - Mulla Naseeruddin, Mungeri Lal Ke Haseen Sapne

Om Puri - Kakaji Kahin, Bharat Ek Khoj

Shekhar Suman - Dekh Bhai Dekh, Mover's & Shekhar's

Superhit DD Programs to Remember

We all must have enjoyed many super hit programs in DD on different times.

Great Mythological Epics- Ramayan(by Ramanand Sagar), Mahabharat(br B R Chopra), Shri Krishna, Uttar Ramayan.

Malgudi Days- collection of short stories by R.K. Narayan focused on the trial and tribulations of a small Indian town of Malgudi.

Dekh Bhai Dekh- Famous comedy sitcom revolving around the Diwan family. Lead actors were Sushma Seth, Navin Nischol, Shekhar Suman, Farida jalal.

Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi[1984-85] - The serial revolved around funny happennings in the lives of Shafi Inamdar,  Swaroop Sampat, Rakesh Bedi, Tikku Talsania &  Satish Shah.

Historic Serials

Bharat Ek Khoj-(Discovery of India) based on a book written by first Prime Minister of independent India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, serial dramatically unfolds the 5000 year history of India from its beginnings to the coming of independence in 1947. written, directed and produced by Shyam Benegal.

Chanakya- a highly acclaimed 47-part television series directed by Dr. Chandraprakash Dwivedi.

Akbar the Great - based on the life story of freat Mughal emperor Akbar.

The Sword of Tipu Sultan - Based on a novel by Bhagwan Gidwani, was a portrayal of life and times of Tipu Sultan.

Mirza Ghalib -  Naseeruddin Shah played Ghalib in the serial produced by Gulzar and the lovely ghazals were sung by Jagjit Singh & Chitra singh.

Bible Ki Kahaniyan -

Famous Family Soaps

Nukkad- Who can forget the famous serial Nukkad(Street Corner) close to real life of typical indian people, directed by Kundan Shah & Saeed Akhtar Mirza.

All the famous characters and their names are still fresh in my memory - Guru, Kadar Bhai, Khopdi, Dagdu, Tambi, Ganpat hawaldar, ghansu bhikari.

Hum Log- the characters of Hum Log - Basesar Ram, Bhagwanti, Lallu, Nanhe, Badki, Majhli, Chutki, Dadaji, Dadi, seems to belong to our surroundings.

Buniyaad- directed by Ramesh Sippy & Jyoti Sarup, anchored by Ashok Kumar and was famous for various prose recited by him. One of the prose made popular as: Lajoji ne khaya badaam, usme se nikla Haveliram, Haveliram ne kholi almaari, usme se nikli Veerawaali, Veerawaali ne khaya paan, usme se nikla Vrushbhaan.

Shanti- Mandira Bedi starrer daily soap.

Udaan - some people said the story was based on the real life of famous IPs officer -Kiran Bedi

Phool Khile Hain Gulshan Gulshan

Gul Gulshan Gulfaam* - Kasmiri story of a family with 3 house boats.

Fantasies/Science Fictions

Chandrakanta- fantasy television series partly based on Devaki Nandan Khatri's novel, produced by Nirja Guleri and directed by Sunil Agnihotri.

Alif Laila- based on the Arabian Nights Stories

Sigma- Science fiction based serial

English Serials/Dubbed in Hindi

Street Hawk- famous for a super bike and its dare devil rider.

A Mouthful Of Sky- an English serial with all Indian actors

*Didi's Comedy Show

Oshin **- famous Chinese story of a little girl

Animation & Cartoon series-

Alice in Wonderland, Duck Tales, Tales Spin, Aladin, Mickey Mouse & Friends, Spiderman, He Man and the Masters of the Universe, Super Man

Song based Programs

Chitrahaar- who can forget the lovely program of songs telecasting twice a week.

Rangoli - Later Rangoli has become the extended form of Chitrahaar.

Show theme- hosted by Tabassum based on bollywood

All the Best- Countdown show with the comedy