1980

The 80s was the era of Doordarshan with soaps like Hum Log, Buniyaad and comedy shows like Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi which made Doordarshan a household name. Circus, Gul Gulshan Gulfam and Nukkad are some of the serials that come instantly to my mind when I think of the good old days of Doordarshan. Those were phenomenal days when people gathered in crowds to watch the telecast of these serials. The characters of Ramayan and Mahabharat were almost worshiped like God and Goddess throughout the country. Other popular programs included Hindi film songs based programs like Chitrahaar and Rangoli and crime thrillers like Karamchand, Byomkesh Bakshi, Tehkikaat and Janki Jasoos. This is the big list of Old Doordarshan TV shows and serials.

Indian small screen programming started off in the early 1980s. At that time there was only one national channel Doordarshan, which was government owned. The Ramayana(1986) and Mahabharata (1988) (both being Hindu mythological stories based on religious scriptures of the same names) were the first major television series produced. This serial notched up the world record in viewership numbers for a single program. By the late 1980s more and more people started to own television sets. When Mahabharata used to be aired, it had a TRP rating of 96%.

Hum Log was Indian television's first soap opera. It began telecast on Doordarshan, India's national network on July 7, 1984, then the only television channel of India, and it quickly became immensely popular. Indian audiences loved the show and the characters became legendary and a common topic of discussion. Hum Log is the story of an Indian middle class family of the 1980s and their daily struggles and aspirations. Hum Log, with 156 episodes, was the longest running serial in the history of Indian television at the time it ended. Hum log achieved audience rating of 65 to 90 percent in north india and between 20 to 45 percent in the prime cities of south india. About 50 million individuals watched the average broadcast of hum log.

Buniyaad is believed to be the biggest blockbuster in the Indian television industry. This popular soap gripped the nation in the mid eighties with the fervor that was unknown in the industry. The true to life depiction of the life struggle of two Punjabi familes ravaged by communal riots and erupted the whole nation in the post independence period was done in the stark manner. The most striking feature of this historical family was its poignant performances by the very popular actor of the small screens. It was on the earliest television soaps that had lavish sets and awe-inspiring drama. The serial was directed by the blockbuster sholay famed director Ramesh Sippy. It is not only the highest rated program but the milestone in the history of Indian television industry. The powerful script had a wide appeal and the touching and

sensitive description of the poignant shots left an indelible mark in the memories of the older generation.

Nukkad was the very popular serial by Kundan Shah and Saeed Akhtar Mirza in 1986-87 telecasted on DD national. This serial was the life line of the tv show at that time. It was based on the life of people living in neighborhood, how they are effecting the life of each other. The levl of love and affection among them etc. it taught a lesson of how one can remain happy even in adverse conditions.

Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi was a popular comedy sitcom (situation comedy) on Indian television, aired for the first time in 1984. It was written by comedy writer Sharad Joshi and directed by S. S. Oberoi and Raman Kumar. It was one of the first sitcoms and one of the biggest hit shows on Indian television after the state owned television, Doordarshan, started sponsoring its programs.

1990

TARA - It was in the 90s that viewers saw a path breaking serial called ‘Tara’. Navneet Nishan sketched the lead role and with growing popularity, she became a household name. Both the actor and the serial dominated the television industry for a very long time. With characteristics like being mean, bitchy, she shattered the "good girl" image. In the year 1994, with ‘Tara’, India got its first taste of a long-running unconventional soap. Tara was an Indian soap opera that aired on Zee TV channel, based on the trials and tribulations, happiness and sorrow of the main character, Tara. The series was known for its first ever contemporary Indian soap on women, and was the first Hindi language drama series that ran the longest of about 5 years.

Shanti was an incredible episode in Doordarshan's history, a show set in the daytime to appeal to the stay-at-home women audience, and it was incredibly successful. Imagine a serial running every day on the weekdays, and managing to go for 804 episodes. Doordarshan started this show in the mid-nineties. The serial only finished when it seemed that the serial was dragging on and TRP's had gone down a lot (in fact, it seemed that Doordarshan actually put a stop to the show because of its low ratings).The serial was about a strong career oriented women, in the world of show-biz and powerful movie moguls, it was a strong role for Mandira Bedi with her playing the role of an inspirational character, head strong woman, and was essentially the story of an illegitimate child who came back to take revenge and fight for both her and her mother's rights.

Shaktiman or Shaktimaan, is a fictional character, an Indian television superhero created by Mukesh Khanna and telecast on Doordarshan, India's national television network, beginning September 13, 1997. India’s first superhero was created in form Shaktimaan and it gaiuned huge popularity with the kids.

Hum Paanch, one of the most successful comedy show of all times in India Television history. Hum Paanch was a very popular comedy tv serial from the balaji productions, it was a landmark production by this production house. It ran for around 10 years. it was a refreshing serial and people from all age groups watched it. The performances were all britllient and apt in their own work. Every character of the serial had its own USP.

Gajendra Singh revolutionised the talent hunt show in India way back in early 90s.The twin shows of Sa Re Ga Ma and Close up Antakshari  were so popular. The proliferation of reality talent hunts in the early 1990s can be directly attributed to the success of Gajendra Singh's musical shows Closeup Antakshari and Sa Re Ga Ma Pa. To Singh goes the primary credit for introducing the concept of talent hunt shows in India.He has tried to raise the bar with every new season of the music talent hunt shows he makes, to reach the widest possible Indian and global audience. Today, with cult followings, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa is a programme where people from all walks of life get a universal platform to display their singing skills and fulfil their dreams.Since its inception in mid-May 1995, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa has had many viewers watching across the world. Singh has taken this programme to the UK, USA, Middle East, Europe, all the while improving the format.

2000

Kaun Banega Crorepati – it was first aired in 2000 with the host Amitabh Bachchan. KBC turned around the fortunes of star plus and got it to the number one position. It is Indian televiosion;s biggest blockbuster reality show. Big B when he made his small screen debut KBC broke all TRP ratings by clocking 23.0 in TAM which was bigger than even Ramayan but not more than Mahabharat if u look at overall rating.

Kyuki Saans bhi Kabhi Bahu thi. – it started in 2000 and ended in 2008. The show has been the longest running serial in Indian television. It also made records of getting the highest Television Rating Point for more than eight years. the show maintained a double digit TRP for more than over 5 years in succession setting a benchmark record in television viewership. It created a successful genre of tearjerker family dramas which still continues in the tv industry. The highest TRP rating for the show has been 22.4.

Astitva ek prem kahani was a very famous serial in mid 2000. It was a story of Simran –a powerful lady is not dependent on her husband for every need and knows how to handle her family and career even without him. This was the first serial to break the trend that a man has to be elder than the woman to marry her. Nikki won many a heart and many an award for this portrayal. it was aired from 2002-2006. It was popular among all age groups.

Des mein nikla hoga chaand – this serial ran from 2001-2005. It was one of the most popular serial of 2000 era. It created waves on the small screen not only for its engaging story line but also for its brilliant star cast. The soap had some relevant moment to cherish atleast for those who have close relatives living far away from them in some foreign country. According to the makers the show has worked because it’s a passionate love story and the family angle in ti was too strong to be ignored. It really got high ranking.

Jassi Jaisi Koi nahi – it was a popular serial aired on Sony in 2003. The show was a success as 90% of the audience could relate to her. This show was a transition from the usual saas bahu sagas to a more realistic story. In just first 12 episodes Jassi… raised its TRP from 3.6 to 5.2. The Jassi pal club yielded more than 4000 members at a conversion rate of 7 %.