A nostalgic take on the TV times of ’90s “A
a gaya, aa gaya, nahi aaya, nahi aaya.
Move a little right, no a little left.” My brother continues to yell instructions to me as I tried to do my assigned job. I was there on the rooftop perched precariously on the ledge holding the TV antenna, moving it in every possible direction in search of a better signal. Those days, we were big fans of Pakistani channel programmes, which were as clear as Doordarshan on our TV in the 1990s. But on some days, we had to wage a battle with our antenna to sharpen the visual quality, and I would be assigned the onerous task of rotating the antenna at inconceivable angles.
Doordarshan was interesting but in parts, Pakistani channels were far more slick and entertaining. I adored their dashing young actors and picture-perfect actresses. One serial that I used to really like revolved around the life of a young girl, who was wooed by a doctor while she was in love with another man. Her confusion threw up funny situations, making the serial melodramatic and funny at the same time.
On Doordarshan, I was drawn to the two epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata. Such was the lure of Mahabharata that life used to stand still for that one hour when it was being telecast. Not a soul could be spotted outside as people congregated around their TV sets to get absorbed and adsorbed in this larger-than-life epic that fired the imagination of people like none other. At times, even buses would stop plying during its telecast time. BR Chopra’s magnum opus was quite a show-stealer indeed.
I also remember Jaspal Bhatti’s ‘Flop Show’. A satirical take on the existing social evils with a hearty dose of laughter, it was a delightful watch. It used to be aired at night, and I once remember running into a neighbour’s home to watch it when our TV conked off.
Later, when I returned home, my father chided me for my behaviour. But those days, TV programmes had such a magnetic pull that you were drawn to them like bees to honey. Though the choices were limited, the content was in tune with our sensibilities, and captured the hearts and minds of the audience.
Things are different now. Though we are spoilt for choice, the quality control seems to have gone haywire. Production houses rake in the moolah and anything in the name of entertainment is passed on to the viewers. Since you have the option to shuffle innumerable channels, no one is complaining. After all, you have the discretion to ignore what doesn’t interest you.
Thinking of the 1990s makes me nostalgic. Those were the days when the idiot box helped to shape my opinions. Writing about all this takes me back to my home where we used to be ensconced in a room watching our favourite serials, gorging on snacks, swooning over our screen heart throbs, happy to be part of a make-believe world.
TV PROGRAMMES HAD SUCH A MAGNETIC PULL THAT YOU WERE DRAWN TO THEM LIKE BEES TO HONEY. THOUGH CHOICES WERE LIMITED, THE CONTENT WAS IN TUNE WITH OUR SENSIBILITIES