Indian Dramas – if you thought they were a bygone era – think again!
You all remember the cult-favorite, ‘Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi’, right? Throwback to the time when entertainment would transcend borders- when India and Pakistan connected over the most chatpatatay dramas.
If you go down memory lane and recall all the dramas you’ve watched, I’m sure a few Indian classics will come to mind too! From ‘Naagin’ to ‘Iss Pyar Ko Kya Naam Doon’, we love binge watching the slo-mo cheesy scenes and the exaggerated phaddas that dominated desi dramas. Furthermore, these shows ran for a longer period of time though each episode was shorter in duration. I cannot deny the fact that these shows were more than just regular, cliched love stories!
Although Indian content got a lot of viewership in Pakistan, I must admit that there was some “Ghair Mayaari” (sub-standard) content too. Surprise surprise … this content also managed to grab widescale viewership! Moreover, several Indian shows played loud, repetitive, and rather irritating background music. (dhoom tanaa nana dhoom), It appears as though more work was channeled into these dramatic effects rather than the actual soundtracks of the serials!
Some dramas also portrayed unbearable and unrealistic characters. As a result, the acting would seem rather forced.
However, the real question is, have Indian dramas evolved now?
As a viewer, I can say that Indian Television makers have learnt a lot from their past mistakes and attempted to make their content better than before. They are still trying to produce some great content on television which is better than the older ones. Let me tell you about some of the shows currently airing on prime time that you might enjoy watching.
1. Yeh Rishtey Hain Pyar Kay
Produced by “Director’s Kut Production’s” Rajan Shahi, Yeh Rishtey Hain Pyar Kay is a spin-off of the popular drama “Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai”. It is a story of Mishti (Rhea Sharma), a girl who comes from a broken family, believing that marriage is all about compatibility and understanding. She’s asked to marry Kunal Rajvansh (played by “Rithvik Arora and now “Avinash Mishra), the youngest son of a business woman Menakshi Rajwansh (Rupal Patel” aka “Kokila Ben”). However, Mishti falls in love with Kunal’s elder brother, Abir (played by “Shaheer Sheikh” and who I belief is the most lovable, and relatable male character of Indian Television). Abir is an independent guy who runs an NGO and is a gypsy soul. He expresses his emotions through his art and poetry.
The cast includes Kaveri Priyam, Sanjeev Seth, Lata Sambharwal, and Pooja Joshi.
2. Naagin 5
Yes, that’s right! Naagin 5 is one of the best shows being aired on Indian television right now. I have never been a fan of the Naagin Series, however, this time, they outdid themselves. The VFX, animation, plot, script, performances, the direction; everything is much better than the previous installments of the franchise. The story takes us back 10,000 years, where the story of Naagin opens with a tragedy. It was a time when snakes had the power to transform into humans. Naagin returns with “Naagin vs Cheel” which is doing wonders on the TRP charts as well.
The cast includes Hina Khan, Mohit Malhotra, Sharad Malhotra, Dheeraj Dhoopar, Surbhi Chandna, and Mohit Sehgal in important roles.
3. Barrister Babu
The drama portrays an old Indian setup, where a woman was treated as a house servant. It is a story of a 6 year old young girl, Bondita Das (played by Aurra Bhatnagar), who was forced to marry an older man. A young boy “Anirudh Roy Chaudhry” (played by Pravisht Mishra), returns to his hometown from London after completing his barrister degree. He wants to finish the stereotypical traditions and in the process, marries Bondita. Anirudh goes against his family to train Bondita and make her realize the importance of education in a girl’s life.
4. Mere Dad Ki Dulhan
Sony TV has surprised me by its amazing productions recently. It has started producing some great content on Television which is much more relatable and enjoyable. This drama revolves around Niya Sharma (Anjali Tatrari) who thinks that her widower father, Amber Sharma (played by veteran Varun Badola), needs a companion in his life. Niya brings Guneet Sikka (played by veteran Shweta Tiwari) as a tenant to her house for her father to come closer to her. The production and direction of the show is carried out beautifully. This surely makes us love it even more!
5. Anupamaa
Produced by Rajan Shahi, it is a comeback show for the veteran actress Rupali Ganguly. The story revolves around a 40 year old housewife, Anupamaa Shah (played by Rupali Ganguly), the typical “Sanskaari Bahu” of Indian Television. She is illiterate and simple, and that’s why her husband, “Vanraj Shah” (played by Sudanshu Panday), does not have a liking for her. The relationship dynamics of Anupamaa with her children is the highlight of the show. Anupamaa is seemingly inspired by Sri Devi from “English Vinglish,” but there’s a twist. It is a show which, in the times of modernity and innovation, takes the viewer back to the basics. This family drama gives us above-par production and direction, making it more intriguing.
6. Indiawaali Maa
Yet another amazing project and a feather in the cap for Indian dramas by Sony TV. The story revolves around “Kaku” (played by versatile Suchita Trivedi) a simple woman who is a wife and mother. Her son Rohan (played by Akshay Mhatre) travels abroad to attend college and gets married there as well. The plot explains the importance of parents in a child’s life. Even when Rohan thinks that he can live on his own, he will still need his mother. The story and production are both very realistic – a well-directed family drama that went on air from 31st August.
Indian dramas are definitely evolving, and using storytelling to deliver original scripts with simplicity and beauty. It’s wonderful to see that an industry with so much potential did not give up and is coming back stronger, one show at a time!
