Typical saas-bahu (mother-and-daughter-in-law) sagas and run-of-the-mill concepts outlived their popularity on the small screen. This was evident from the success of finite series such as Zindagi Gulzar Hai and Humsafar from Pakistan, which not only captivated audiences but also topped the charts.
The year saw megastar Amitabh Bachchan making his debut in fiction space on TV with Yudh. Co-produced by Bachchan’s production company Saraswati Creations and Endemol India, the show was appreciated for its concept but failed to make it big. Many new shows were launched, but hardly any one of them found viewership. It’s time for television to reinvent itself and bring out new concepts.
Here are the shows that clicked with the audience this year. Some of them may have gone off air but have definitely left audiences wanting more:
Zindagi Gulzar Hai
Coming from across the border, the Pakistani show struck a chord with its zeal and youthful romance between the lead characters — Zaroon Junaid and Kashaf Murtaza — who hate each other but eventually fall in love. A heart-warming story, it highlighted the intricacies of life. The show was instantly appreciated for its realistic approach and finite number of episodes. Aired on the Zindagi channel, the show was launched in June and finished on a happy note in July. Fawad Khan, who played the male lead, was also seen making his Bollywood debut with Khoobsurat.
Humsafar
Another Pakistani marvel brought to India by the Zindagi channel. Humsafar, which again starred Fawad Khan along with Mahira Khan was about a couple who are forced into marriage. It’s not a love story where eyes meet and the wind blows, but a gradual and slow building-up of emotions. The show started on October 14 and ended on November 7. Now, Mahira is all set to enter Hindi filmdom with Raees, a film that stars Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan.
Yeh Hai Mohabbatein
The show is a perfect embodiment of Ekta Kapoor’s successful formula with the right amount of love, drama and comedy. The story of a couple who come together for the sake of a child was appreciated. With the main plot, the show also highlights the intermingling of two cultures — South Indian and Punjabi in a humorous way. The Star Plus show was launched in December 2013.
Crime Patrol
The crime show has managed to retain its popularity after being launched in 2008. Based on true crime stories, it sees actor Anup Soni, who hosts the show, taking audiences to various parts of the country where the incidents have taken place. The show is credited with spreading awareness about crime and making people more cautious.
Devon ke Dev Mahadev
The mythological serial on Life OK channel managed to give a taste of Hindu deity Shiva’s life. The show captured the notion of good wins over evil. The male lead Mohit Raina also amassed a massive fan following courtesy of the show, which was launched in 2008 and went off air in December this year. Be it his marriage or the ‘tandav’ dance, the show kept audiences on the edge of their seat with mesmerising performances.
Maat
The Zindagi channel’s show focused on sibling rivalry, where a girl is competing with her own sister. The title is also apt as it means checkmate. The makers portrayed topics such as materialism and ambition without overdoing it. The show was launched in July and wrapped up in August.
Tumhari Paakhi
Based on the novel Naba Bidhan by Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay, the show about child marriage depicts how a girl waits for her Prince Charming, who moves on in life and settles down with a different woman in a hill station. The sizzling chemistry between the lead pair — Iqbal Khan and Shraddha Arya — was also applauded. The Life OK show started with a great story but lost the plot midway and met an abrupt end in November.
Doli Armaanon Ki
Another show that caught the Indian audiences’ attention was Doli Armaanon Ki, which talked about a small-town girl and how her dreams about marriage are shattered thanks to her chauvinistic husband. While Neha Marda plays the lead, Mohit Malik is seen as her abusive, short-tempered and unfaithful husband. The show, which went on air in December 2013 on Zee TV, has managed to remain interesting so far.
Ajeeb Daastaan Hain Ye
The love triangle storyline launched actress Sonali Bendre in the fiction genre on television. She has hosted shows, but this was her first stint in a soap and the story has so far managed to entertain the audience. With Apoorva Agnihotri and Harsh Chhaya in the male leads, it was touted to be a finite series. This is a different show from Ekta Kapoor who is known for focusing on kitchen politics in her TV shows.
Aunn Zara
Another show from the neighbouring country, which was comical in nature, appealed to the masses. What happens when a guy spoiled by his mother, grandmother and aunts gets married to a tomboy.
