Television – An Index Of The Indian Society

Television in India has been in existence for about four decades. For the first 17 years,
it spread haltingly and transmission was usually in black and white. It was during the
1980s that the small screen programming began and at that time there was only one
national channel doordarshan, which was government owned.

In the year 1982 the state owned broadcaster doordarshan (DD) timed with the 1982
asian games which India hosted, it was then transmitters were installed nationwide for
terrestrial broadcasting. In the early ninetees a big turning point came in Indian
television i.e the broadcast of satellite tv by foreign and domestic programmers like
CNN, STAR tv ,ZEE tv etc. reached Indian homes.

From the early 80s till now, television has changed itself according to the need, taste
and preference of the people of India. It has portrayed all the ups and downs the the
Indian society has faced till this time. From Hum Log to Sach Ka Saamna television is
walking parallel to the society. Here are some of the programmes that depicts the
changes in the Indian society…..

Humlog (1985) - It was the first soap-opera on Indian TV. The plot revolves around a
middle class Indian family. Father is drinking; mother is hard (Majli) working. There are 3
girls also in the story with one son and grandparents. And the youngest (’’chutki’’ =
small one) is in school, I think. The son wants to make money, and gets involved with a
rich family (marrying into money).

This serial was a mirror image of Indian society in 1980s

Ramayan (1986) - This was the first real cracker of Mythological TV serial. It was run
for 78 weeks, each week one hour episode on Sunday morning. It was world’s most-
viewed mythological serial. Life used to a standstill as all massed around television sets
to catch the latest episode.

Mahabharat (1988) - Mahabharat was broadcasted between 1988 and 1990. It was
perhaps the biggest hit of Indian TV. No wonder still people remember it. The casting
was a real trump card of that serial. We can never forget dialogues of Dr Rahi Massom
Raza.

These serials depicts mythological beliefs of Indian society.

Kaun Banega Crorepati (July 2000) - It is based on ’’who wants to be a millionaire’’
and stunned Indian TV with new game show and Big B. It was the first hit show on Star
Plus.

Interestingly Amitabh Bachchan is the only big-screen superstar to have worked

successfully on television. Govinda and Manisha Koirala’s KBC-inspired game shows
`Jeeto Chappad Phad Ke` and `Sawaal Dus Crore Ka` were miserable failures.

This game show initiated the era of game shows and reality shows in Indian television.

Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi (July 2000) - The story revolved around Virani
Family who are successful and well-known in the Bombay. The story is focused on Tulsi
Virani, who marries the eldest son of the family, Mihir. All the members except,
grandfather and grandmother of Mihir were against it. All were blaming her that she had
done this for Money. But Tulsi fights the injustice and battles her mother-in-law. This is
the serial which as sets many trends.

This serial highlighted the family soaps again. It also shows the glamorized posture of
Indian society.

Other serials like Swabhiman, Buniyaad, Chitrahaar, Antakshari, Tara, Indian Idol etc.
and many more has successfully shown the changing that are takin place in the society.
These days serials like Balika Vadhu, Sach Ka Saamna are reveiling the truth that the
Indian society is going through.

Thus we can surely say that television is an index for Indian society.