Remembering 9 iconic Doordarshan shows as channel celebrates 60th anniversary

Founded on September 15, 1959, Doordarshan revolutionized the television circuit in India and ensured a balance between information and entertainment.

Malgudi Days is an Indian Hindi-language television series based on the works of RK Narayan, adapted from the collections of short stories written by him in his book with the same name. The series was directed by Kannada actor and director Shankar Nag. It first aired 18 March 1987 and had a total number of 69 telecasted episodes. The series was made in 1987 by film producer TS Narasimhan. It was revived for 15 episodes in 2006 which were directed by Kavitha Lankesh.
 

Byomkesh Bakshi is the first Hindi Television series based on the Byomkesh Bakshi character created by Sharadindu Bandyopadhyay. The series stars Rajit Kapur and KK Raina as Byomkesh Bakshi and Ajit Kumar Banerji respectively. It became critically acclaimed and most celebrated adaptation of the character keeping it fresh even after decades. 

The 1988 show, 'Mahabharat', is one of the most revered TV shows even today. 'Mahabharat' first went on air in 1988. It is an Indian television series based on the Hindu epic. It was a 94-episode Hindi series. Each episode ran for approximately 60 minutes and began with a title song that consisted of lyrical content and two verses from the 'Bhagavad Gita'. It was produced by BR Chopra and was directed by his son, Ravi Chopra.

Ramanand Sagar s 'Ramayan' brought the country to a standstill every Sunday from January 25, 1987, to July 31, 1988 at 9:30 am. Ramanand Sagar had written and directed the 78-episode series.  It was a 'Ramayan fever' that time when public transport - trains, buses and inner-city trucks would become empty as the programme would telecast and people would assemble in villages around the single television set to watch the show. It was actually was a programme that the entire family could watch.  Interestingly, the show is the world's most viewed mythological serial in Limca Book of Records

'Hum Log' is probably one of the most popular television serials ever. It is the story of a lower-middle-class family and the struggles they face in their day-to-day lives. It was a first serial drama series on India. It began its telecast on Doordarshan, on 7 July 1984, and total telecasted 156 episodes.

'Chitrahaar' was a musical program of  DD national featuring song clips from Bollywood films. It was widely watched in the 1980s and 1990s. 'Chitrahaar' was broadcast twice a week at 8 pm on Wednesday and Friday and was a 30-minute program on Doordarshan. 

'Buniyaad' went on to become a hugely popular serial which showcased the life of a common man after India's partition and its after-effects. The story spans the life in India between 1916-1978. It first aired in 1986  and has a total telecasted 105 episodes. It was directed by Ramesh Sippy. 'Buniyaad' over the years has had a rerun six times on Indian television. 

90s kid feels the nostalgia over the famous line 'Jungle Jungle Baat Chali Hai, Pata Chala, Chaddi Pehn Ke Phool Khila Hai' as these lines take you back to those Sunday mornings that were spent with family and children altogether. It was a version of the Walt Disney show that aired in different countries around the world.  In India, where it was dubbed in Hindi and become immensely popular.

'Vikram Aur Betal' was an Indian television series that aired on DD National based on the India mythological collection of 25 stories known as Baital Pachisi. It revolves around the King Vikram who is tasked to capture a Betaal, a celestial spirit. The Betaal during their journey would narrate a story and ask question-based on them. It was first aired in 1988 and has a total telecasted 26 episodes.