An ode to Rural India

Here are a few pics taken by me during 'Utsaha', the Marketing fest of IIM Indore.

10 forgotten but awesome TV Shows

Off late I have come across many blog posts which take us down memory lane to the early 90s or late 80s discussing some of the legendary television shows of those times. However, they often miss some shows which might not have been blockbusters but which played their own unique role in the evolution of Indian television. Here is a list of few that I could recall:

1. Space City Sigma
I am not sure what was the period of its telecast but I remember this show being telecast at around 11 am on Sundays. It can well qualify as my first brush against science fiction. I still remember that for a long time I was convinced that the aliens in the show are men with wheat dough (atta) on their heads.

2. Stone Boy

It was a mini series if I am not wrong. The story of a tribal boy in Mauritius who turned into a stone due to a curse and later, his return to human world for 14 days. It still remains one of the most interesting story lines I have seen in a children's show.

3. Raju aur Udantashtari

This one used to telecast at around 2 pm when the rainbow colored waiting screen gave way to the revolving doordarshan logo followed by the news and then this show. This one dealt with some UFO landing on earth and getting spotted by a small boy.

4. Ank Ajoobe
Part of the summer vacation package "Chhutti Chhutti" for a long time and later an independent show on DD Metro this was one truly inspiring and unique shows which combined academics and entertainment. Am yet to see another show repeat the feat.

5. Katha Sagar

Long before shows like Rishtey and Gubbare featured on Zee and Star Bestsellers came on Star Plus, DD had a very similar show which consisted of inspiring stories or classics turned into single episode tales. With some of the best actors of all times lending their performances to this show, I am sure its archives are a treasure of acting.

6. Param Veer Chakra

Never has a show given me as many goosebumps as this one. Army being my childhood ambition, this was a show I never missed. Packed with brilliant performances once again, it had a beautiful theme song -"Shaan teri kabhi kam na ho.....Ae watan..."

7. Wagle ki Duniya

I don't remember a thing from this one but I used to call Anjan Srivastav as Wagle for a long time. Seems it was a comedy woven around a household.

8. Tehkikaat

By far the second best detective show to feature on Indian television (after Byomkesh Bakshi of course), I think this was the show that made Saurabh Shukla a public figure.

9. Udaan

Perhaps inspired by Kiran Bedi, this was an inspiring story of a girl who dared to become a Police officer. The protagonist's role was played by the same lady who featured as "Usha Jee" in the super popular Surf ad of the same era.

10. The Morning Transmission - Jee Saheb

With Deepak Vohra and a puppet as its anchors, I remember many mornings of my early days beginning with the show.

(to be continued...)