Retro DD TV serials we’d love to watch again!

The return of Ramayana and Mahabharata during the Covid-19 pandemic sent a lot of us on a trip down memory lane. As Doordarshan decided to re-telecast Ramayan and Mahabharat daily to keep viewers engaged, it brought a huge rush of nostalgia along.

I bet that even before you read our list of the TV serials your mind has already recounted some of the names. We can’t bring back those times but surely we can travel through our memory together to cherish those times.

Fauji

Fauji was based on the tough lives of army men and their training regime. The lead role of Abhimanyu Rai was played by Shah Rukh Khan in his first-ever acting assignment. The serial had a total of 13 episodes. The character played by SRK is said to be based on the Lieutenant Colonel Sanjoy Bannerji of the Bombay Sappers, Indian Army.

Captain Vyom

The homegrown Scifi serial was ahead of its time for DD but it hit just the right chord with the youth and children alike. It was based on the superhero, captain Vyom, who leads a team to capture highly dangerous villains who escaped from prison. The show aired in the late 90s and a total of 54 episodes.

Hum Paanch

This Indian sitcom aired in 1995 representing trouble created by 5 wild and troublesome daughters of a businessman in Mumbai. It was regarded as one of the all-time favourite and popular shows on Indian Television. Not many people know that Vidya Balan was also a part of the cast of ‘Hum Panch’ and played the role of Radhika Mathur. It was the first acting assignment of her career.

Shaktimaan

Another popular Indian superhero show that created a buzz amongst children in the era of 90s. With a total of 450 episodes the serial of a super hit and children used to love the show a lot. Later many toys and merchandise too got popular in the retail market.

Chandrakanta

The multi-starrer serial was based on the eternal love saga of Chandrakanta (Shikha Swaroop) and Virendra Vikram Singh (Shahbaz Khan), whose kingdoms were at war with each other. It was aired in 1994 with a total of 133 episodes. The evil catchphrase of “Yakkoo” from Kroor Singh (played by Akhilendra Mishra) was as big a hit as the series itself. Irrfan Khan, a budding artist then, played the role of Badrinath, whereas Mukesh Khanna played Janbaaz.

Byomkesh Bakshi

Based on the story of a Bengali detective who solves various mysteries using his excellent analytical skills. This serial had a total of 34 episodes but was popular due to its thrilling nature. It was released in 1993-1997. It had Rajit Kapur in the lead role as Byomkesh Bakshi. You may watch its entire series by clicking the picture. In 2015, a movie by the name of “Detective Byokesh Bakshi” was released, wherein Sushant Singh Rajput essayed the role of the protagonist.

Flop Show

A comedy show directed by famous satirical comedian Jaspal Bhatti, who played the lead role. The show portrayed the daily problems of a common man in a very sarcastic way. The show aired its first show in 1989 and was one of the best creations of the late Jaspal Bhatti.

Malgudi Days

Swami became a household name when Malgudi days was telecasted in the 80s. It was an instant hit with children and youngsters. Malgudi Days aired in 1986 and had 54 episodes in total. The people living in the small town of Malgudi lead simple lives and face several trials and tribulations. Swami and his friends were the favorite characters around.

Nukkad

Based on the daily challenges and problems of lower-income group people Nukkad was a serial that aired in the late 80s. With almost 100 episodes it was a very popular show with the mid-age group. The popularity of the show made the directors re-launch the show as Naya Nukkad.

Chitrahaar

Everyone knows Chitrahaar, the only musical show on television in those days. The show featured the latest Bollywood songs. It was a widely watched show back in 80s.

Hum Log

The oldest and the first-ever TV serial of India, Hum Log aired in the year 1984 on Doordarshan. With 156 episodes this serial showcased the daily struggles in the life of a middle-class man’s life. Due to this, it connected with the average or middle class of India and hence made the characters of the serial more popular than the movie stars. You can watch the first episode of the serial by clicking the picture.

Buniyaad

Aired in 1986 this Tv serial showcased the struggles of the India-Pakistan partition. The serial became highly popular as the topic it touched was sensitive and people liked the storyline it showcased. Directed by Ramesh Sippy, the serial had a total of 105 episodes

Do let us know your favorite serials that you’d like to feature in this list if we have missed any.

You may also like

Comics we used to enjoy as kids in 80s and 90s