As India’s first private satellite channel — Zee — celebrates 25 years, we look at the iconic TV shows launched by the channel
On October 2, the pioneer of Indian private satellite television, Zee Television completed 25 years. It revolutionised the cable TV industry and within no time established itself in households with shows like Tara, Antakshari, and Zee Horror Show. Here, we take a look at some of the pathbreaking shows aired on the channel.
Banegi Apni Baat
Set on a college campus, the show with its focus on teenage romance and problems instantly connected with the youth. And as producer Deeya Singh had said in an interview, it covered everything from pimples to premarital sex that was a first on Indian television. R Madhavan made his debut as Ashley in the show that made him a teenage heart-throb.
Tara
This show of the ’90s was all about female power. Bold and bindaas, it was the story of four urban women, their aspirations, ambitions, and love lives a la Sex And The City. Unapologetic and unabashed, the women here lived their lives on their own terms — whether they had an extramarital affair, had a child out of wedlock, fell in love with an older man or loved their beer. It broke many barriers and remains one of the most memorable shows that was ahead of its times. Navneet Nishan as Tara sporting cropped hair became a trendsetter.
Zee Horror Show
Who can forget the haunting theme song or the gory image of Archana Puran Singh’s head on a plate! The show produced by Ramsays was all about blood and gore and managed to spook the viewers with its paranormal stories.
Filmy Chakkar
The family headed by Satish Shah and Ratna Pathak Shah was poori filmi — they were obsessed with movies and used every cliché situation of love, humour and sorrow from Bollywood in their lives to depict a situation. And yet, it was completely realistic. One of the best sitcoms on TV, it is nothing short of a cult show.
Hum Paanch
The very first TV show of Ekta Kapoor, it revolved around five strong female characters with one male character trying to fit himself into the family that he headed! Vidya Balan started her acting career with this sitcom as the simple, nerdy Radhika Mathur. But it was Rakhi Tandon as the Shah Rukh Khan obsessed Sweety, who struck a chord with the viewers. Every daughter of the Mathur family had a peculiar characteristic and each one endeared. Not to forget Priya Tendulkar, who was shown as dead and talking from a photo frame. Hum Paanch definitely packed a punch!
Astitva...Ek Prem Kahani
A gynecologist falls in love with a man 10 years younger to him and marries him. A bold concept for its time, it showed a woman asserting her independence and choice undeterred by societal norms. Nikki Aneja and Varun Badola’s subtle performance made this serial memorable.
Hasratein
A married woman falls in love with her boss and decides to leave her husband. A taboo subject for the small screen in the ’90s, but Hasratein directed by Ajay Sinha based on a Marathi novel Adhantri by Jaywant Dalvi, dealt with it in a mature and sensitive manner. It set the trend for several such shows based on extramarital affairs.
Hip Hip HurRay
It was one of the must-watch shows for kids growing up in the ’90s. Based on 12th grade students, it dealt with the issues faced by youngsters in college, their fears, ambitions, relationships, angst, etc in a light-hearted manner. There is talk of the serial returning as a web series with a new cast and story.
Phillips Top 10
A countdown show of Bollywood songs, the show hosted by Satish Shah was iconic for the memorable characters he played.
Antakshari
Who would have thought a household game played when people get together would get its own spin on TV and successfully at that. An indigenous game show, the music show hosted by Annu Kapoor ran for a record 11 years and then some. Several music shows have come after that, but this remains unique.
Sa Re Ga Ma PA
It is the first music talent hunt show aired on a satellite channel in 1995 and such has been in its magic that it is still going strong 22 years on, albeit with different seasons. The first few seasons were hosted by Sonu Nigam who went on to become a famous playback singer. Shreya Ghoshal was a Sa Re Ga Ma Pa discovery — She won the singing competition in 2000 — and Sanjay Leela Bhansali gave her a break in Devdas.
Pavitra Rishta
The love story of Manav (Sushant Singh Rajput) and Archana (Ankita Lokhande) was the highlight of the show. It was the chemistry between the lead pair that worked big time. Sushant then went on to pursue a film career and now Ankita is set to make her movie debut.
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