by Hum Log -The First Serial in India
Hum Log, the first Indian soap opera, premiered on Doordarshan, India’s sole television station at the time, on July 7, 1984, permanently transforming the way Indians consume mass media. The introduction of television serials into people’s drawing rooms revolutionised the way information and entertainment were delivered, from 70 mm movie screens to wooden cabinet encased television sets.
It has 154 episodes, Hum Log depicted the challenges and ambitions of a middle-class family. Badki, Nanhe, Chutki, and Lajwanti quickly became household names to which people could easily connect. The serial dealt expertly with contemporary concerns.
The serial’s creators dealt gently with topics such as drunkenness, gender discrimination, poverty, superstition, and job chances. Indians related to drunkard Basesar and wannabe cricketer Nanhe. A patriarchal system stifled Lajwanti in every family. At the end of each episode, prominent cinema actor Ashok Kumar came on television to analyse the day’s theme in an artistic manner. He captivated listeners with his witticisms, insights, and wise counsel.
Producer and Director
Hum Log was created in partnership with writer Manohar Shyam Joshi and director P. Kumar Vasudev and was conceptualised by Vasant Sathe, the then-Minister of Information and Broadcasting. A Mexican play impacted it.
With socially sensitive and sophisticated material appealing to an upwardly mobile yet struggling middle-class mass audience, the serial boosted the golden period of Indian television. It was quickly followed by Buniyaad, which dealt with Partition in 1986, Fauji, which is best recognised as the launch pad for Bollywood sensation Shahrukh Khan, comedy programme Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi, Vikram Betal, and Malgudi Days.
The after shows are
Notwithstanding the fact that India earned independence from British rule in 1947, the process of nation-building was far from completed. A single identity and value system was difficult to develop in a society divided by language, geography, caste, class, and religion, among other factors. Television serials made a significant contribution to this cultural integration strategy. The introduction of private channels in the 1990s, with regional and worldwide channels available at the touch of a remote control button, accelerated this development. Tara, which aired in 1995, associated with the modern metropolitan lady, while Hasratein addressed the issue of extramarital affairs.
As the economy liberalised in the 1990s, reality and talent search shows like as Boogie Woogie, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa, and eventually Kaun Banega Crorepati, hosted by none other than the Badshah of Indian cinema, Amitabh Bachchan, represented the burgeoning ambitions of the youth. Around this time, there was a plethora of TV serials.
