Indian television dramas (also known as Indian series colloquially known as serials[1]) are dramatictelevision programs written, produced, and filmed in India, with characters played by Indian actors and episodes broadcast on Indian televisions.[2]
India's first television drama titled Hum Log (Hindi), aired from 1984 to 1985,[3] and concluded with 154 episodes. Ekta Kapoor's Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi (2000–08) became the first Indian television drama to cross 1000 episodes in the history of Indian Television, thus entering the Limca Book of Records, and completed its run with 1833 episodes.[4]Char Divas Sasuche (Marathi) (2001–13) was the first Indian series to cross 2,000 and 3,000 episodes, also entering in Limca Book of Records, which concluded with 3,200 episodes. The Telugu series Abhishekam (2008–22) was the first Indian series with 4,000 episodes and concluded on 1 February 2022.[5] The television drama Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai (2009–present) with 4300+ episodes is the longest-running Hindi TV show of India, and the longest-running soap opera, airing for 15 years as of 2024.
India's first television drama was Hum Log, which first aired in 1984–85[8] and concluded with 154 episodes. It was the longest running serial in the history of Indian television at the time when it ended. It had an audience of 60million, with each episode was about 25minutes long, and the series finale episode was about 55minutes.[9] At the end of each episode, veteran Hindi film actor Ashok Kumar would discuss the ongoing story and situations with the audience using Hindi couplets and limericks. In later episodes, he would introduce the actors who played characters in the serial and end his monologue with the Indian language versions of the words "Hum Log". In 2002, StarPlus telecasted the period drama TV miniseries Asoka, based on the 2001 film of the same name, with a run of five episodes.[10][11]
Crime dramas also started being produced and aired. C.I.D. (1998–2018) follows a team of detectives belonging to the Crime Investigation Department in Mumbai. C.I.D. is the longest-running crime TV series in India, having a run of 20 years. Adaalat (2010–16) was an Indian television courtroom drama series which revolves around Advocate K. D. Pathak, a defense lawyer with an impeccable track record of winning cases and setting helpless innocent victims free, but not at the cost of upholding the truth.[12]
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TV dramas affect Indian society, with regard to national integration, identity, globalization,[15]women, ethics and social issues in rural areas.[citation needed] The first Indian television drama series, Hum Log, began as a family planning program, and although it quickly turned its focus to entertainment, it continued to embed pro-development messages which provided a model of utilizing the television serial as an "edutainment" method that was followed by countries around the world.[16]
A 2007 study of cable coming to rural India showed that it led to "significant decreases in the reported acceptability of domestic violence towards women and son preference, as well as increases in women's autonomy and decreases in fertility." It also "found suggestive evidence that exposure to cable increases school enrollment for younger children, perhaps through increased participation of women in household decision-making."[17][18]
Dishayen was dubbed in Russian language and did well in Russia in 2005.
Pakistan
Indian dramas were popular in Pakistan and Indian entertainment channels are widely watched, due to the mutual intelligibility between Urdu and Hindi.[22][23] The Supreme Court of Pakistan has banned the showing of Indian films and TV shows.[24] The British Broadcasting Corporation has reported that cable television operators in Pakistan often violate the ban and air Indian television serials due to the high popularity and demand for these in Pakistan, and Indian television shows make up nearly 60 percent of all foreign programmes broadcast in Pakistan.[25]
In June 2006, Pakistani comedian Rauf Lala participated and won the comedy television show, The Great Indian Laughter Challenge, but the show could not be followed by fellow Pakistanis as the show was not allowed to be aired there.[26] An official has commented that "Bollywood and Indian TV drama have invaded our homes".[27]
The viewing of Indian TV dramas has become so popular that mainstream newspapers such as the Pakistan Tribune often have feature articles on the shows.[28] Since satellite connections offer uninterrupted coverage of Indian shows, many people have bought these to watch the programs.[29]
Anti-Indian sentiment is reported in Pakistan and the two countries have fought 4 wars over a span of about 50 years. However, the effect of Indian TV shows and Bollywood have resulted in an increase in how "favorably an ordinary Pakistani views [India and] Indians." Certain Indian tourists to Pakistan have said that people are particularly friendly if one is from India.[30]
On 27 October 2018, The Supreme Court of Pakistan has reintroduced the ban on Indian content on local channels in the country. The channels like Filmazia, Urdu1 had shut down Indian content for an appropriate period of time.[31][32]
Afghanistan
Indian soaps became highly popular in Afghanistan during the 2000s against the backdrop of the existing high popularity of Bollywood cinema. In 2006, a Reuters press article wrote of the airing of the series Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, dubbed into native Dari:[33]
Men, women, young and old anyone, it seems, with access to television is enthralled by the family drama.
According to a source, armed militants during the war in Afghanistan may have even stopped fighting to watch Indian dramas.[34]
The strong popularity of Indian dramas was challenged by conservative hardliners who saw it as a threat to the country's religious and national values. Under pressure from conservatives, the government of Hamid Karzai ordered broadcasters to stop airing dramas in April 2008. However, broadcasters refused to comply, stating that it is against the country's media law.[35]
The first homemade Afghan television drama serial was called Palwasha, produced by Aina Afghan Media and started airing on 25 November 2007. Although shot in Kabul and in Dari, the serial was directed by an Indian and other engineers and workers of the series were from India.[36] Additionally, the main character was played by an Indian actress, Sonal Udeshi.[37][38][39]
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi is an Indian Hindi-language soap opera that aired from 3 July 2000 to 6 November 2008 on Star Plus. The show was co-produced by Shobha Kapoor and Ekta Kapoor under their banner Balaji Telefilms.
Balaji Telefilms is an Indian company that produces Indian soap operas in several Indian languages. Balaji Telefilms also owns Alt Balaji, the platform known for producing adult rated content. Balaji Telefilms also produces reality TV, comedy, game shows, entertainment, and factual programming. Balaji Telefilms is promoted by Ekta Kapoor and Shobha Kapoor and is a public company listed at Bombay Stock Exchange and National Stock Exchange of India.
Gauri Pradhan Tejwani is an Indian actress and former model who works in Hindi television. She is best known for playing the roles of Gauri Pratham Mittal in Sony TV's Kutumb, Nandini Karan Virani in Star Plus's Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, Dr. Deepika Ghosh in Special Squad and Anita Sharma in Colors TV's Tu Aashiqui.
Hiten Tejwani is an Indian television actor known for his work in several fictional shows.
Sudha Shivpuri was an Indian actress who was most famous for her role as Baa in the Hindi TV serial Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi (2000–2008).
Jaya Bhattacharya is an Indian television actress. She is known for playing antagonistic roles in TV serials. She has also done small roles in movies. Best known for playing Payal in soap opera Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, she also played the roles of Jigyasa Bali in Kasamh Se, Sakku Bai in Jhansi Ki Rani, and Sudha Buaa in Gangaa. She again gained popularity with her role of Vasundhara Pandey in drama series Thapki Pyar Ki (2015–2017). She appeared in Silsila Badalte Rishton Ka (2018–2019) and then she played the role of veena devi in Thapki Pyar Ki 2.
Akashdeep Saigal is an Indian actor who works in Hindi television. He is best known for his portrayal of Ansh Virani and Ekalavya Virani in Star Plus's soap opera Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi as well as participating in the reality show Bigg Boss 5 in which he became a finalist.
Ek Mahal Ho Sapno Ka is a Hindi language Indian soap opera that aired on Sony TV. The show was a remake of Gujarati show on ETV Gujarati called Sapna Na Vavetar. It was the first Hindi-language fiction series to reach 1000 episodes.
Achint Kaur is a notable actor in Indian television and cinema, particularly recognized for her roles as Mandira and Pallavi in Ekta Kapoor's soap operas, Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi and Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii, respectively, both of which were broadcast on StarPlus. She also voiced the character Shenzi in the Hindi version of the movie The Lion King. She portrayed the roles of a mother and a mother-in-law in the TV series Jamai Raja.
Karishma Tanna Bangera is an Indian actress, model and anchor who predominantly works in Hindi films and television shows. She made her television debut with Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi in 2001. She is well known for her roles in Paalkhi, Naagin 3 and Qayamat Ki Raat. She was a contestant on the reality show Bigg Boss 8 in 2014, where she emerged as the 1st runner-up. In 2020, she participated in Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi 10 and emerged as the winner.
Apara Mehta is an Indian television and Bollywood actress known for her supporting roles like Savita Mansukh Virani in the iconic show Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi.
Amar Upadhyay is an Indian actor who is best known for his work in Hindi Television. He started his career with modelling and he is best known for his collaborations with Ekta Kapoor in the television shows namely Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi (2000–2002), Kalash (2000–2002), Kasautii Zindagii Kay (2005), Kkusum (2005) and Molkki (2020–2022). In 2011, he participated in Bigg Boss and emergeed as a finalist.
Aman Verma is an Indian television anchor and actor. As an anchor, Verma is best known for hosting the game show Khullja Sim Sim on Star Plus from 2001 to 2004. His other hosting duties were with Mini Mathur in the first season of Indian Idol on Sony TV and Zee TV's Zee Cinestars. He has also acted in Bollywood movies. Verma was also seen in Life OK's show Hum Ne Li Hai- Shapath as ACP Diler Kumar. He also participated in the ninth season of Indian reality series Bigg Boss.
Nivedita Basu is The vice president content and business alliances at Atrangii and Indian television producer who was creative director at Balaji Telefilms. Nivedita turned producer in 2015 and owns a celebrity cricket team on the television reality show Box Cricket League.
Kaushik Ghatak began his career in the entertainment industry in India on 14 February 1998 as an apprentice assistant to the prominent filmmaker, Anurag Basu. He has directed several television serials and a few advertisement films before he directed his first film Ek Vivaah... Aisa Bhi for Rajshri Productions. He next film was Samrat & Co. for producer, Kavita K. Barjatya, under the banner of Rajshri Productions.
Pakistani dramas, or Pakistani serials, are televised serials produced in Pakistan. Although most of the serials are produced in Urdu, an increasing number of them are produced in other Pakistani languages such as Sindhi, Pashto, Punjabi and Balochi. One of Pakistan's oldest television dramas is the Urdu serial Khuda Ki Basti, which aired in 1969. Pakistani dramas, like serials elsewhere, reflect the country's culture. According to Farooq Sulehria 1970 & 1980 are considered to be golden old days of Pakistani serials.
Kamalika Guha Thakurta is an Indian television actress who hails from West Bengal. She made her debut with Mujhe Chaand Chahiye and found success with Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. She also played the role of Sumitra in Vishnu Puran.
The Star India v Leo Burnett case was heard before the Bombay High Court in 2003. The case revolved around using the TV show Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi as a basis for a Tide detergent commercial and whether this violated copyright law.
Char Divas Sasuche is an Indian Marathi soap opera that aired on ETV Marathi. It is the second longest running Indian serial with 3,147 episodes. It was premiered on November 2001 and ended on 5 January 2013. It was directed by Khalil Herekar.
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